We have gotten the live stream camera officially set up and in place. So, what exactly are we watching for?
We are looking to see if any predators come to the nest, either night or day. We also want to know the rates of female nest attendance and watch for any potential defensive behaviors. Lastly, we are watching for the female as she opens the nest up during the hatching period.
We think this nest was likely built mid-June with eggs deposited shortly thereafter. Given the 60 day incubation period, we suspect this nest will probably hatch mid to late August. We are finding from previous years that female nest attendance during the mid-incubation is rare. We are anticipating little excitement until closer to the end unless a predator comes around. The most likely of culprits include: raccoons, opossums, and pigs.
We hope you enjoy coming a long for this research project. Feel free to comment or email me with any questions that you may have: jeremy@chamberlainherplab.com.
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