Viper Hatches Two in Michigan
May 10, 2015 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Thank you to our friends in Michigan for this amazing update! Viper, hatched at the Windsor Ambassador Bridge in 2012 to Freddie and Voltaire, has had two of her four eggs hatch so far at the Lansing Board of Water and Light Otto E. Eckert Power Station. What makes this such a phenomenal event is the story leading up to it.
Viper arrived last spring at the power station along with several other females. The resident female was displaced in a territorial battle, the victor was then fighting yet another new female and at the end of it all Viper came in and claimed the nest box for her own. She nested last year with Eckert, the resident male, producing three eggs that after 45 days were candled and shown to be infertile.
Fast forward to January of this year. Viper was reported missing and a new unbanded female had taken over the box. The new girl and Eckert were getting on with courtship when Viper returned and a vicious nest box battle was video taped by their in box camera that ended with Viper and her rival talon locked and tumbling out of the box and down the face of the plant. The monitors for the site were able to later confirm that Viper remained and was once again resident female of the plant.
Viper and Eckert laid four eggs this spring and folks have been watching with fingers crossed for fertile eggs this year. Well Viper, you did it! Two young ones have now hatched and we are so pleased to hear of her success. Thank you to the Windsor Fledge Watch team who watched over her as a young one in 2012 and to our friends in Michigan that watch over her today! Great news for Viper!!