2013 ROME 2013~Aria & Vento, Alice & Virgilio

Warbler · **Joined:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:09 pm **Posts:** 375

I think that whatever is above the nest may be the reason why the eggs are being left. On Sunday, they were left for a couple of hours :sad:

If I can find out more, I'll let you all know.

In the last couple of years, several people on the Italian forum have asked about a cover for the nest. The answer is that the birds chose this nest - and they've been coming back for several years now. I can't remember the exact sequence of events but I think that someone in Telecom Italia already followed Birdcam in Italy and when they realised that there were peregrines around the tower and the decision was made to prepare a nest, at least one other was prepared for them on the tower, but they chose this one.

Warbler · **Joined:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:09 pm **Posts:** 375

I asked about what might be distracting the birds on the Italian forum and Carlomastro, who works in the tower, gave me this answer:

"The nest is on a ring of the tower at about 2/3 of the total height. There are other rings above the one with the nest and, from time to time, there may be technicians working on the equipment on these rings. I think that they (Alice and Virgilio) instinctively look up to see if there's anyone on the upper terraces."

He may well be right as I remember that they've also continued to look up in previous years. Let's hope, however, that incubation is a little more settled in the coming days. Unfortunately bad weather is forecast for tomorrow and Friday but hopefully that will be the last really bad weather of the winter.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Thanks so much, Warbler...well, something is still holding their interest up there...

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Warbler · **Joined:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:09 pm **Posts:** 375

The eggs are constantly left unguarded. I think everyone on the Italian forum is concerned by this behaviour :girlsad3:

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Alice and Virgilio

Still nobody on the eggs..

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Virgilio has just returned...

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

A few minutes after Virgilio got on the eggs, Alice landed (is this the same Alice as last year?) Sorry, I didn't have the sound on..

Unfortunately, not 5 minutes after I stopped this video, Alice was spooked off the eggs...now they are uncovered again..

If these eggs have any chance at all, somebody needs to put a stop to whatever is going on above them..if its human activity!!!

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

OK...she has just returned..on high alert...looking up...She's sitting on the side of the box...not on the eggs..

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Carly, here's Warbler's 3/13 post

Warbler wrote:

I asked about what might be distracting the birds on the Italian forum and Carlomastro, who works in the tower, gave me this answer:

"The nest is on a ring of the tower at about 2/3 of the total height. There are other rings above the one with the nest and, from time to time, there may be technicians working on the equipment on these rings. I think that they (Alice and Virgilio) instinctively look up to see if there's anyone on the upper terraces."

He may well be right as I remember that they've also continued to look up in previous years. Let's hope, however, that incubation is a little more settled in the coming days. Unfortunately bad weather is forecast for tomorrow and Friday but hopefully that will be the last really bad weather of the winter.