Good grief! 12 pages yesterday. And most of them about the birds and the bees - or the birds. I'm copying Wattle's post (the last one on yesterday's Update thread) which may throw some light on the topic. (Glad someone asked; I wasn't sure myself but you feel such a twit.....)
From Wattle: Now I've finished chuckling at all the posts, I'll answer the delicate question posed. Generally, birds have just one multi-purpose opening, male and female, both under the tail. The female holds her tail to one side, and the male curls his body forward until there is, well, a 'bum kiss'! It can be lightning fast and still be very effective. ;-) I say 'generally', because male ducks, swans etc can be more elaborately endowed, but females are always the same (I think).
Thank you Wattle, I think..... :-)
Oh, and the LG nest is empty; Marge is at LOTL
S'OK, Annette. I went and checked my facts before I posted, in case I gave you all a bum steer!!! In case anyone is thinking about the last time they looked at a plucked chicken or turkey while they were preparing it for the oven and wondering what that little gland is on the back at the base of the tail - that's the preening gland (don't know its proper name). It holds a little store of waxy oil which the bird can distribute to its feathers to condition and waterproof them. OK?
Smiles, Jan.
Amazing. A preening gland. Why don't I have one? Might simplify the mornings.....
Uh oh. Haven't been paying attention; EJ has arrived on the nest.
Wow. That extra-bright light just came on. Dazzling. Wonder what on earth that's all about. EJ has been sitting looking around every since she arrived. Can just see the faintest hint of light on the horizon. All still the same at LOTL.
EJ tired of sitting about; has just left - --- but not for long. Has returned and decided to rearrange some furniture...
OK. Well Odin finally showed up for what was, by his standards, a long encounter before flying off again.
Good morning all. OF course it is 11:30 p.m. here.
I think the bright light you saw is a special light extra they have on the camera so the 24 hour a day monitors at the center can see better at night.. They probably turned it on as part of the "egg watch" .
Volunteers at the center monitor the nest 24/7 as soon as the first egg has been laid.
EJ should lay her first egg in the next few days.
Formerly known as Barbara Jean
Hallo Barbara Jean: Only one visit from Odin thus far today. Wonder if he's gone off fishing. Thanks for the info re the light - I don't recall it all from last year. We should be getting color any minute.
Oh and here comes Odin again. Another "long" session. Hmm. No fish though.
Geez. Light is very bright and in combination with the daylight, looks like EJ is sitting in a snowfield. Very little contrast. and can't see anything of the background. All a bit odd.
Hi Annette
I recall last year and the year before how well we could see at night. I saw EJ lay her first egg.
After the chicks fledge they go back to the pixeled light we have had thus far. LOTL must have the night vision light too because we can clearly see Marge at night
Now we have color and normal light