Morlach wrote:I've noticed a few times recently the nest is empty then suddenly one or more of the babies arrives on the nest squawking like crazy, then about 20 seconds later Madis arrives with a fish. Wonder if they are following and observing him fishing then scamper back to the nest once he gets a fish. Maybe they are just perched nearby and see him coming I guess, but would this be a part of the learning experience and Madis teaching them. However if they where perching say, on the cam housing and the see him coming, I would think that the they would jump down onto the nest then Maids would arrive almost immediatety but the time delay indicates to me they know hes coming earlier and race back to the nest. Any thoughts or observations?
Hi Morlach,
.....yes, same question for me since I watch this cam (also with Piret when Madis came to bring in fish..... you could feel (see or notice) that she KNEW exactly that Madis will come with fish minutes before he arrived at nest.
My personal oberservations and thoughts:
Piret always knew, when Madis "went fishing" - so she knew, that he will arrive soon with fish for the chicks. In addition to this she must have heard him in the air before he arrived. The three "babies" (before fledging) must have heard him in the air, too. Longer while before his landing in the nest - in the distance......
Meanwhile things changed a bit, I think. I think that Uno and Elo have "fishing trips" together with Madis to LEARN how to hunt food. So they SEE when Madis had success and they RUSH to the nest to await Madis with the fish. I think, they are a bit more fast without transporting a fish than Madis ;-) that's why they arrive before Madis. Maybe Nori does the same meanwhile, but I think for Nori it will need some days more. So Nori only HEARS Madis coming (same as before she fledged) and also a thing of "experience"..... guessing he will come, born out of her experience (time period or/and just HOPE in HUNGER?
). But independent of "common hunting" also Uno and Elo will still hear Madis in the distance air and will have the "hope in hunger" ;-)
Also a communication must loom large of this "knowing that Madis will bring in food" (for ALL: Piret AND the siblings) .....
That are my personal thoughts about :-)