Juvenile Bald

It is unlikely that the eggs will hatch at this point. We have no way of knowing why. It could be environmental, such as temperatures, humidity percentages, oxygen levels at high altitude, etc. It could be biological with something just being off at the time the eggs were created. It is very unlikely that either Jackie or Shadow are infertile since they have already had 2 sets of chicks together - in 2019 and 2022.


In order to initiate another clutch, Jackie would need to stop incubating these eggs first. She is only fertile during a short period of time: January-March (possibly April).

Flaco, Central Park Owl, Died With High Levels of Rat Poison in System

A necropsy conducted by the Bronx Zoo found that Flaco also had a severe pigeon virus when he crashed into a Manhattan building.


In confirming the role of traumatic injuries, those tests found he had a severe pigeon herpesvirus, which the conservation society attributed to his eating feral pigeons.

The herpesvirus in question can be carried by healthy pigeons but may cause fatal disease in birds of prey, including owls that become infected by eating pigeons, the society said.

In Flaco’s case, the society said, the viral infection had caused severe tissue damage and inflammation in many organs, including the spleen, liver, gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow and brain.

Toxicity tests also determined that Flaco had been exposed to four different anticoagulant rodenticides that are commonly used for rat control in New York City.

Together, the conservation society said, the pigeon virus and rodenticide exposure “would have been debilitating and ultimately fatal, even without a traumatic injury, and may have predisposed him to flying into or falling from the building.”

No other contributing factors were identified through the extensive testing that was performed.

Toxicology tests also revealed trace amounts of DDE, a breakdown product of the pesticide DDT, which has been banned in the United States since the early 1970s. Although the levels detected did not contribute to Flaco’s death, the society said, the finding was a “reminder of the long legacy of DDT and its dire effects on wild bird populations.”


www.nytimes.com/2024/03/25/nyregion/flaco-owl-central-park-zoo-death-cause.html

It appears one eggshell lost its structural integrity and broke by 7:52. By 11:40 the egg crumbled further and disappeared from view. It likely remains in the bowl. It is unclear if there was any development inside. We will watch to see whether more information presents itself.

In a surprise turn of events, J showed up after dark at 19:48 & vigorously aerated the nest bowl, effectively hiding the two eggs from the camera view. They remain in the bowl & may reappear later.

May 20, 2024 22:33:40 GMT -5 iamchris said:

Update: I got in touch with my past self. Went for a brief hike on Saturday and was graced with some more good luck atop my head.

When Shadow arrived, he was sporting a long, white streak all across the top of his wing—apparently the forest can be an unpredictable place with birds out there pooping on you willy nilly.

Good look at 1:28 on the clip.
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