Yes, we did. Unfortunately, we got the camera after she had laid. We decided that installing the camera would be less disruptive in the end. Without the camera, we would have to open the box and check on her at least a couple times a week. She is a 1st time mom, with the camera we could check if she was caring for the eggs and chicks. We also have to know when chicks hatch to band them (USFWS bands). So we went from 10+ disruptions to 2. 1 to put in the camera and 1 to band chicks.
How did you do it without disturbing her to the point of making her want to abandon the nest? I hear bird banders have to make sure they don't stress a parent bird like that; but they never mention how.
It depends on the birds. In Athena's case, one of the reasons she is unreleasable is that she was raised by people, illegally. They fed her a terrible diet and her feather condition was wretched when she got to us. We got her back to health, but she is way to tolerant of people, and our weird gadgets, to be released. With a different bird, but the same circumstances, we might not do the same thing.
It's just that I've seen ornithology textbooks that show bird banders getting to very young chicks to band them, and how they do it without provoking the parents is unmentioned. Thanks for telling me how you did it with Athena anyhow.
She is. We have had success putting hand raised owls into breeding. Hawks, falcons, and eagles are another matter. If they are imprinted, they will sometimes kill potential mates or try and mate with humans. We had a golden eagle we got because he was "attacking" people. He wasn't, he was trying to mate with them. Kuma was a great education bird for years. He picked our director as his "mate" and was a complete sweetheart. Some imprints can turn very aggressive and they can't be released.
Trying to mate with humans? You mean one of those imprints might try to hump a human's head and leave something white and sticky on his/her hair?
I thought it was unnecessarily difficult to train a bird that wasn't imprinted. Or are there just different techniques for those kinds of birds? I remember seeing a captive-bred Snowy Owl that was extraordinarily "touchy" and didn't like being approached by anyone other than his handler--is this an example of "mate defense"?
Heads and we have an eagle owl who is fond of tainers' shoes and a red-tail who likes trainers' gloves. As to training imprints, it depends on what you want to do. Some imprinted species can be potentionally dangerous. Some falconers, people who hunt with raptors, prefer imprints. It is not more difficult to train non-imprints, it is different and in some ways preferred. Like any situation, a trainer has to know what they are doing. Can't speak to the snowy though, without situational knowledge.
The squawking in the back ground I think you are talking about are the African pied crows, Piper and Ripley, next door. Unfortunately the cameras are low tech and low price, they are simply black and white security cameras from a hardware store. I think thats where the buzz comes from.
Eat the camera! >:D
Miyokowarrior 2 months ago
god....owls-especially barn owls-are creepy 0.0
ShadowDwellerXXX 1 year ago
You mean you waited until Athena settled into the box before rigging the camera inside it? The vid description you wrote seems to imply that.
Mazryonh 4 years ago
Yes, we did. Unfortunately, we got the camera after she had laid. We decided that installing the camera would be less disruptive in the end. Without the camera, we would have to open the box and check on her at least a couple times a week. She is a 1st time mom, with the camera we could check if she was caring for the eggs and chicks. We also have to know when chicks hatch to band them (USFWS bands). So we went from 10+ disruptions to 2. 1 to put in the camera and 1 to band chicks.
WorldBirdSanctuary 4 years ago
How did you do it without disturbing her to the point of making her want to abandon the nest? I hear bird banders have to make sure they don't stress a parent bird like that; but they never mention how.
Mazryonh 4 years ago
It depends on the birds. In Athena's case, one of the reasons she is unreleasable is that she was raised by people, illegally. They fed her a terrible diet and her feather condition was wretched when she got to us. We got her back to health, but she is way to tolerant of people, and our weird gadgets, to be released. With a different bird, but the same circumstances, we might not do the same thing.
WorldBirdSanctuary 4 years ago
I see. So is she imprinted on humans?
It's just that I've seen ornithology textbooks that show bird banders getting to very young chicks to band them, and how they do it without provoking the parents is unmentioned. Thanks for telling me how you did it with Athena anyhow.
Mazryonh 4 years ago
She is. We have had success putting hand raised owls into breeding. Hawks, falcons, and eagles are another matter. If they are imprinted, they will sometimes kill potential mates or try and mate with humans. We had a golden eagle we got because he was "attacking" people. He wasn't, he was trying to mate with them. Kuma was a great education bird for years. He picked our director as his "mate" and was a complete sweetheart. Some imprints can turn very aggressive and they can't be released.
WorldBirdSanctuary 4 years ago
Trying to mate with humans? You mean one of those imprints might try to hump a human's head and leave something white and sticky on his/her hair?
I thought it was unnecessarily difficult to train a bird that wasn't imprinted. Or are there just different techniques for those kinds of birds? I remember seeing a captive-bred Snowy Owl that was extraordinarily "touchy" and didn't like being approached by anyone other than his handler--is this an example of "mate defense"?
Mazryonh 4 years ago
Heads and we have an eagle owl who is fond of tainers' shoes and a red-tail who likes trainers' gloves. As to training imprints, it depends on what you want to do. Some imprinted species can be potentionally dangerous. Some falconers, people who hunt with raptors, prefer imprints. It is not more difficult to train non-imprints, it is different and in some ways preferred. Like any situation, a trainer has to know what they are doing. Can't speak to the snowy though, without situational knowledge.
WorldBirdSanctuary 4 years ago
Bit of a hum, I guess.
Who's that squawking in the background?
JimmyJoeLard 4 years ago
The squawking in the back ground I think you are talking about are the African pied crows, Piper and Ripley, next door. Unfortunately the cameras are low tech and low price, they are simply black and white security cameras from a hardware store. I think thats where the buzz comes from.
WorldBirdSanctuary 4 years ago