My Camera Nest is Hatching

[Donna - TX]

If you are interested here is the link to my camera nest which is hatching right now.

http://apps.facebook.com/ustream_live/129527225005

Please note this camera starts with a 10 second commercial that I have no control over.

[Donna - TX]

The audio line has gone bad, we will try to get that fixed.

[Gobbler T]

Donna,
That is very cool! Watching her eat the egg shells was something to see. It may not be any of my business but while I was watching her eat the shells she accidently threw it and when she went to get it, it looked like one of the eggs was capped with the other half. You might want to check it. She was pecking at it but never got it off.

I hope I'm wrong but better safe than sorry.

[Donna - TX]

Thanks Tony I will check that....

I usually have a few capped eggs every year but not one this year...yet

[flyin-lowe]

Pretty cool. I haven't never spent much time watching a nest cam. I was surprised to see that when the male came in he fed the babies and the female left. The male instantly took her place sitting on the eggs/young and stayed there for 5-10 minutes until the female came back. I didn't realize the males ever sat on the nest.

[Donna - TX]

I have had males not want to get off and the female starts squawking at them until they do. They love to sit on the eggs and babies when the female is not there.

This is the first time on the camera I was able to see a baby pecking a hole in his shell....it was cool. I believe it got recorded too.

[Scully]

We should have our own web cam up and running pretty quick, maybe just in time to see them leave

That is what happens when you have to work though beaurocracies...

Glad yours is up and running tho. Congrats

MIke Scully

[3wood]

Amazing, Thanks for sharing your set up with the world hopefully it'll inspire some new landlords. Very emotional to see our newest Martins make their appearance.

[Vern1]

Greetings,
Simply amazing.

What camera, etc. you are using?

[D'Nese]

That is so awesome! It's amazing to watch how they manhandle the babies moving them around. They look so delicate but parents know what to do. I can't wait til you get the sound fixed. Thanks for sharing!

[Donna - TX]

The camera is a cheap analog security camera that we picked up from Fry's a few years ago. We mount the camera in tunnel extension that we attach to the gourd's lid. We then run the camera cable to the house and connect it to a computer via a video-capture interface. Then we use UStream to broadcast the video stream over the internet.

That's it

[Donna - TX]

We have audio now but you will hear a buzz so it still needs some fixing.

[Guest]

Thank you so much for your hard work and effort! Me being a first time Landlord with a pair just now building their nest. then some occasional lookers, keeps me excited I can't wait till I have some eggs.

[Chriscreole]

We have audio now but you will hear a buzz so it still needs some fixing.

Great webcam, that sounds like the same type buzz I got when I built a Guitar cable, had a bad ground solder joint. redid the solder and it went away. Just what it reminded me of.

[Matt@atx]

I just LOVE your pine needle beds... Looks so comfy.
One here told me about taking the 73 east about 45 minutes from Austin to collect pine needles but I have not had time.
Im getting pine needles for next year.
Thanks for sharing Donna, one can learn alot from watching this.

[Matt@atx]

looks like a parent is coming back every minute or two with bugs. Is the food getting pretty good for your birds there right now from what you can tell?

[Guest]

This is great! Thanks
Johnny

[Spiderman]

Great Video. It helps with ageing your own birds knowing when these Martins hatched and seeing them change as they grow.

[Sandy - NC]

Donna, I am glad to hear your nest cam is hatching . Now you will have more nest cams to use next year.