Nest #3 status and archive, 2011-12

Nov 18 The banded male #4746 has failed to mate and will not be raising chicks this year. He left his nesting site, the rocks were stolen by the neighbors and he has now left the colony. He was young and had never raised a family before. Maybe he will be back next year. We have selected another nest with a banded female to take over Nest #3 in our study.

Banded female # 1902 is 15 years old and has raised chicks at Cape Royds 4 times. She was first sighted here in 2003 and last raised 2 chicks in the 2010-11 season. Her nest is close to Nest #1 on the flats, but with several large rocks around her to help fend off the Skuas. Since she is the oldest female in our study we are naming her Captain after the charcters in the Mr Popper's Penguin movie. Her mate will be Lovey. Mrs Crystal's class from Caifornia has named one of these chicks Buddy, we will make it the big one.

 

First egg: Nov 19, 2011

Second egg: Nov 20, 2011

First chick: Dec 26, 2011

Second chick: Dec 27, 2011

Click on any picture to see a larger version

 
Banded female # 1902 The Corral group on the flats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov 12, Nov 13, Male waiting for female Nov 14, We hope this will be his mate. Nov 15, The male is alone again.
Nov 16, The male is alone again. Nov 17 Nov 18, Our new pair. Captain and Lovey. Nov 19, Captain has laid an egg, YEAH!
This male has failed to mate and left the colony. We will be selecting another nest to follow as #3.
Nov 20, Captain has laid the second egg. Lovey is on the nest.

Nov 21, One egg has been lost to the snow storm, there is one egg. Captain is on the nest, Lovey is nearby.

 Nov 22, Lovey is on the nest, but Captain is nearby. There is one egg. Nov 23,Lovey is on the nest, but Captain is nearby. There is one egg.
Nov 24, Storm in the colony, no picture. We are tent-bound. Nov 25, Captain is on the nest. One egg. Nov 26, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs.This is unusual, but after losing one, Captain must have laid a replacement egg. We are very happy ! Nov 27, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs
Nov 28, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs. Nov 29, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs. Nov 30, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 1, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs.
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Dec 2, Captain is back and is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 3, Lovey is back and on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 4, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 5, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs.
Dec 6, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 7, Captain is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 8, Captain is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 9, Captain is on the nest, there are two eggs.
Dec 10, Captain is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 11, Captain is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 12, No picture today, laundry day for the researchers Dec 13, Captain is on the nest, there are two eggs.
 
Dec 14, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 15, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 16, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 17, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs.
Dec 18, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 19, Captain is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 20, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 21, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs.
Dec 22, Captain is on the nest, there are two eggs Dec 23, Lovey is on the nest, Captain is nearby, there are two eggs. Dec 24, Lovey is on the nest, there are two eggs. Dec 25, Captain is on the nest, there are two eggs.
Dec 26, Captain is on the nest, there is one chick, I missed the picture, but you can see the broken shell by her body. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ! ! Dec 27, Captain is on the nest, there are two chicks,HAPPY BIRTHDAY ! ! Dec 28, Lovey is on the nest, there are two chicks. Dec 29, Captain is on the nest, there are two chicks.
Dec 30, Lovey is on the nest, there are two chicks. Dec 31, Lovey is on the nest, there are two chicks. Jan 1, Happy New Year, no picture today. Jan 2, Captain is on the nest, there are 2 chicks.
 
Jan 3, Lovey is on the nest, there are 2 chicks. Jan 4, Lovey is on the nest, there are 2 chicks. Jan 5, Lovey is on the nest, there are 2 chicks. Jan 6, Captain is on the nest, there are 2 chicks.
Jan 7, Captain is on the nest, there are 2 chicks. Buddy is the big one. Jan 8, Lovey is on the nest, there are 2 chicks, here is Buddy. Jan 9, Lovey is on the nest, there are 2 chicks, Buddy is in the back Jan 10, Captain is on the nest, these chicks are about 2 weeks old today.
Jan 11, Captain is on the nest, two chicks Jan 12, Lovey is on the nest, two chicks Jan 13, Lovey is on the nest, two chicks Jan 14, Lovey is on the nest, two chicks
Jan 15, Lovey is on the nest, two chicks Jan 16, Lovey is on the nest, two chicks. The last picture for the season. These are strong healthy chicks and we hope they make it through the winter. The chicks are about 20 days old today.