Coordinates
(36.5007, -75.9148)
Substrate
Destroyed by high winds
Description
Located on Parker Rd, Knotts Island, NC
What to look for
Adult Arrival
Look for 2 adults on the nest. The adult pair will show pair bonding behaviors such as vocalizations, aerial sky dances, and the male feeding the female fish. You may see the pair copulating, which typically begins 14 days before laying eggs.
Incubation Initiation
Females will lay 1 - 4 eggs at a rate of one egg every 1 - 2 days. After laying, incubation starts. Look for adults taking turns sitting low in the nest incubating eggs. The incubation period can last 35 - 43 days.
Clutch Hatching
Chicks hatch ~39 days after incubation begins. Look for adults bringing food to the nest and making "head bows" into the center. Chicks typically can't be seen until they are 2 - 3 weeks old, so feeding behavior is the only way to know chicks are there.
Nestling Count
Around 4 weeks after hatching, look for the heads of chicks to show over the rim of the nest, particularly when adults bring food to the nest. Other times they lie flat and are harder to see. Count the number of chicks in the nest before they learn to fly
Fledgling Count
Chicks begin flying around 7 - 8 weeks old, and are still fed by the adults. Count the number of chicks who have successfully fledged the nest and are observed flying.
Chick Last Observed
4 - 10 weeks after fledging, chicks begin leaving the nest area to migrate south, once they have learned to fly and feed themselves. Record the date that the last chick left the nest.
Nest Failure
Look for signs of nest failure like adult abandonment, adults no longer incubating eggs or feeding young.
Previous Next Review All Observations
| 2017 - Gary | 2016 - Gary | 2015 - Gary | 2014 - Gary | 2013 - Gary |
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aAdult Arrival | 3/16/17 | 3/8/16 | 3/10/15 | 4/14/14 | |
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aOccupied | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
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aActive | | | | | |
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bEgg Laying | | | | 5/1/14 | |
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bIncubation Initiation | | 4/6/16 | 4/10/15 | | |
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cClutch Hatching | | 5/14/16 | 5/22/15 | 6/11/14 | |
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dNestlings | | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
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eFledglings | | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
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eFirst Chick Fledging | | 7/8/16 | 7/19/15 | | |
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fChicks Last Observed | | 8/12/16 | 8/17/15 | 8/28/14 | 8/28/14 |
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xNest Failure | 5/17/17 | | | | |
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xReason For Nest Failure | | | | | |
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Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Activity reports
2013 Nest Activity Report by
GaryAdult arrival | | Nestlings | 2 |
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Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | 2 |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | 08/28/2014 |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2014 Nest Activity Report by
GaryAdult arrival | 04/14/2014 | Nestlings | 2 |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | 05/01/2014 | Chicks last observed | 08/28/2014 |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | 06/11/2014 | Reason for nest failure | |
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2015 Nest Activity Report by
GaryAdult arrival | 03/10/2015 | Nestlings | 3 |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | 07/19/2015 |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | 08/17/2015 |
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Incubation initiation | 04/10/2015 | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | 05/22/2015 | Reason for nest failure | |
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2016 Nest Activity Report by
GaryAdult arrival | 03/08/2016 | Nestlings | 2 |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | 07/08/2016 |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | 08/12/2016 |
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Incubation initiation | 04/06/2016 | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | 05/14/2016 | Reason for nest failure | |
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2017 Nest Activity Report by
GaryAdult arrival | 03/16/2017 | Nestlings | |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | 05/17/2017 |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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Nesting Diaries
Last fall heavy winds destroyed the nest and broke off the top of the dead tree. There was only a big branch left on the trunk near the top. Papa returned in early March and began to rebuild. I never expected to see a strong nest there again. I have taking him bay grass to help with the nest as well as a few branches. I did the same last year so he knew what was coming. In fact he picked up the first bunch as I was leaving.
This nest is 2 years in the making. Last year the male worked hard trying to get branches to stick in a tree that only had a small area. He continued working this year and finally got a mate who is now appears to be sitting on eggs