Our 2025 CahowCam2 Chick Has Hatched!
First Appearance: March 9th @ 20:55 | Fully Revealed: March 9th @ 20:57
On March 10th at 21:35—exactly 24 hours after the chick hatched—the male parent departed for his first foraging trip at sea. He is expected to return in a few days, while his mate is also due back soon with her own feeding contribution. Since this is her first chick, it remains to be seen if her timing aligns perfectly. Note from JP: “We’ve received many concerned messages from viewers about the chick being left alone. This is completely normal. The chick’s dense down keeps it warm without the need for constant parental coverage once it dries after hatching.”
The 24/7 live streams and archived recordings from CahowCam 1 and 2 provide a rare, intimate look at the secretive nesting behaviors of the critically endangered Bermuda Petrel (Cahow). These insights are invaluable for the conservation and management of this iconic species. To support these underfunded efforts, please consider reaching out to us.
A Countdown to Hatching
The Nonsuch Expeditions and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) teams, along with dedicated volunteers and a vigilant community of viewers, were on “Hatch Watch” after Jeremy noticed “dimples” on the CahowCam2 egg during a health check on March 5th.
Dimples are small indentations in the eggshell caused by the chick beginning to peck its way out from the inside. This marks the first visible stage of hatching, which can be confirmed by candling the egg (illuminating it with a bright light) and monitoring its weight for developmental changes.
When the dimples break through the shell and inner membrane, they become “pips,” signaling that hatching is imminent. Once the membrane is pierced, the egg begins to dehydrate. The chick must break out within about four days to avoid the risk of dying in the shell.
The monitoring team closely observed the incubating parent’s behavior and watched for brief moments when the egg was uncovered. On March 7th, during a parental handover, the male returned to relieve his younger mate. At that time, the dimples were just barely visible on camera.
The Final Stages
On the morning of March 9th at 5:30 a.m., the first small pips were spotted when the male briefly left the nest to chase away another prospecting Cahow. This moment was captured by the SurfaceCam, which is typically used to document fledging chicks, nighttime aerobatics, and territorial confrontations.
Throughout the day, the team kept a close eye on the video feed. Audible peeping sounds from the egg could be heard beneath the incubating parent. Fourteen hours later, a dime-sized hole appeared on the egg.
From that point, things progressed quickly. At 20:55, the chick’s still-wet upper body emerged from under its parent, and by 20:57, the chick was fully visible.
A New Life Begins
The devoted father carefully tended to the chick, keeping it warm and protected while its down dried. The chick emerged from under him four hours later, already begging for its first meal.
The male parent regurgitated a black, tar-like, pre-digested meal that he had stored in his gullet for several days. This nutrient-rich food will sustain the chick for its first few weeks of life. At around two months old, the chick will transition to digesting fresh fish and squid.
Watch the Chick Live!
You can follow the chick’s journey in real-time via the CahowCam live stream. Stay tuned for more updates, the full story, and video replays of this incredible event!