Cam/Audio Notes, Egg Update

The male bringing prey to the female.

After last year's struggles with reliable streaming during nesting season we have been actively working towards a more dependable system. We made some changes last week to upgrade computers and for the most part, the changes were successful!  However, there is still a gremlin in the system somewhere!!  We now have suspicion that it may have something to do with the sound card/audio mixer. 

For now, we have the audio turned off to help with troubleshooting.  So far it seems to have made a difference as we did not lose either stream overnight as had been happening.  The audio will remain off over the weekend and next week we will pick back up trouble shooting the audio issue as it relates to the streaming.  At least for now it's better to have both streams running without sound then to keep losing a stream - especially when we're all on "egg watch!"

When can we expect an egg? Durand's biological calendar has been pretty consistent over the years.  From 2013-2015 she laid her first egg on March 19 in each of those years.  Last year, she laid her first egg on March 12.  There has been plenty of courtship and mating with the new male, 30/Z, so all seems a go.  I think it safe to say we can expect an egg any day!  There is a lot of anticipation in the air among us here at the Division of Wildlife and with all of the fans watching.  We sincerely hope that the streaming video cooperates!

Until we have an egg to celebrate, here is a video of the pair bonding in the nest box from March 8 to view in the meantime!