Note: Based on Jim's observations, we are guessing that the clutch hatched at least 10 days prior to the chicks being visible in the nest. May 12 is just our guess.
Jim G. reports:
#7142 09:13am - 09:47am
09:13am Mother and chick are sharing a rather large fish. No sign of the male.
09:30am Mom and chick are still eating.
09:44am The meal is finished. The female takes flight.
09:47am The chick settles in the nest.
observer reports:
#7142 02:16pm - 02:38pm
02:16pm Female and 1 chick in nest. Female is shading chick with spread wings.
02:23pm Female is making repeated calls and scanning the sky. Both are standing.
02:34pm Female calling more frequently.
02:38pm Chick settles in nest and female resumes shading the chick.
observer reports: #7142 05:04pm -05:23pm
05:07pm Male arrived at nest with a fish(not the one hanging on the side of the nest). He dropped fish in nest and flew. Female began feeding chick.
05:23pm Female still feeding chick and taking an occasional bite for herself.
Observer comments: Still no signs of chicks in either nest, despite claims by the alligator boat operators that there are “juveniles” in nest #7142. Some gentle probing revealed that the two people who making the claims were passing along things heard from others. I am observing with a 60X spotting scope, so I have a very close and clear view of the nest
observer reports: 02:18pm - 02:58pm
02:18pm Adult sitting low in nest.
02:24pm Male circling above nest and calling. Female responding to his calls.
02:25pm Male flies away.
02:46pm Female frequently scans the sky, but no sign of the male since 02:25pm.
02:58pm Observation terminated.
Observer reports: 03:47pm - 04:44pm
03:47pm Adult (later determined to be the female when she briefly stood up) sitting low in nest.
03:54pm Male caught a fish near the nesting tree, landed nearby and ate.
04:10pm Male landed on edge of nest, stayed about 15 seconds and then flew away.
04:17pm Male attempted to catch another fish, failed and landed in tree next to nest.
04:41pm Female stood up in nest, made some some adjustments and resettled in incubation position.
04:44pm Observation terminated.
The incubation date of 4/24 is a total guess since this nest was not discovered until late April. The person who found the nest thought there was a chick in it, but subsequent observations indicate incubation is continuing. We will try to figure this out.
Observer reports: 01:23pm One adult on nest - seems to be incubating.
01:38pm Adult making adjustments on bottom of nest - maybe turning eggs.
01:42pm Adult standing on edge of nest, cleaning or making adjustments.
02:01pm Adult stood on edge of nest for about 30 seconds then flew.
Adult had heavy streaking on breast - probably female.
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