Screenshots from nest#4 of Sääksilive Osprey nests. The two chicks are growing, and figuring out how to share the nest while they do. Warning for views of fish prey, and sibling rivalry.
Both chicks have already eaten earlier in the day, and the younger, too, has a noticeable crop. But more would fit.
Dad Niilo brings a big fish for supper. Younger chick N2 is quick to secure first bites as mom Nuppu begins feeding.
N1 elbows its way to the feeding station. Not very difficult to do since N1 is quite a bit bigger.
The chicks eat side by side for a while, but eventually enough bites start going in N2's beak instead of N1's that the pecking order must be enforced.
N2 gets a roughing up, and puts its head down as a sign of submission, letting N1 have the feeding to itself first.
The parents feed whichever chick is there to grab the food and beg for it to be brought within grabbing distance, and it's normal for them not to interfere with sibling rivalry. The chicks sort out among themselves who eats when, and usually that means the oldest and biggest chick gets its turn first, while smaller sibling(s) wait for what's left.
N2 notices the piece of food it had in its mouth when N1 drove it away from the feeding, and picks it up from the nest floor and eats it. Good job!
N2 lifting its head does not go unnoticed.
N2 sneaks a few bites of food here and there, but also gets more bonks for it from N1 as soon as N2 starts looking too much like real competition for food, and has to back down again to continue waiting.
N1, too, is a baby, and completely dependent for survival on the food its parents bring, so it must ensure it gets enough of what there is to thrive and grow. Another mouth for the parents to feed is a threat if food is scarce, so since N1 is bigger and stronger, its method of making sure it gets fed uses that advantage. The younger chick then needs to learn to pick its battles and be patient and sneaky. The chicks have been getting plenty to eat, but this behavior is instinctual, and along with getting them access to food in the short term, it also teaches them vital survival skills for when they're old enough to be on their own.
Eventually N1 is full and ready for a nap. There's still lots of fish left, and now it's N2's turn to feast!
A pretty impressive-sized crop on N2 as well now!
N1 gets up for a few more bites. N1 doesn't show aggression towards N2 this time, but N2 still considers it wise to put its head back down pre-emptively.
Nuppu moves the fish to where N2 is facing, and so the feeding continues for the little one. :)
After N2 has had enough, Nuppu eats the rest of the fish. N1 is a lot more pleasant company when not hungry.
Chicks snuggled under Nuppu for the night. Or, their heads are under her, not much else comfortably fits anymore. But it's warm and the chicks have their thermal down growing in, so that's fine. She can still shield them from rain by spreading her wings.
Good morning! N2 seems to have grown new face feathers overnight and now also has a more clearly defined dark stripe over the eye.
Nuppu, N2, N1.
N2 bonks N1, for loking at it wrong, I guess. This happened a couple of times, and after each peck N2 retreated (or in one case, tried to) out of range of retaliation. N1 didn't try very hard to bonk back, though, considering N2 mostly missed.
The chicks are still sorting out their pecking order, and though it's pretty clear N1 has a significant advantage when it comes to fights, being almost five days older, N2 has the same instinctual aggressive impulses.
Weather is hot in the afternoon and everyone is panting. N2 front.
Another day, another feeding. The pattern seems to be getting clearer:
N1 eats first, while N2 waits. When N1 is full, N2 gets the rest all to
itself.
Some more good faces.
Time for bed. The chicks get along quite well when both are full of food.
N2 turned two weeks old yesterday, N1 will be three weeks old on Saturday.
No comments:
Post a Comment