Roosting during eclipse

[GardenTillers44]

Had to work today, but working was an eclipse party for our staff and customers. A flock of sparrows flew into the shrubs and settled in like it was roosting time. It got dark enough for there to be this weird silver-gray shadowy light. I've only seen that kind of lighting during an eclipse. Wind kicked up during the height of the eclipse which surprised me a little. 93-95% here. I took some time-lapse video and photos through our solar telescope that look decent. Some awesome sun spots!

 

[hlhutchinson]

no reaction for my girls here in upstate n.y. either.. it barely got dim.. meh

It got darker in my location and ya no reaction

 

[AnnieSantiago]

My chooks looked a little confused and got into a flock at the door of the henhouse, but didn't go in.

 

[barred2rock]

Had to work today, but working was an eclipse party for our staff and customers. A flock of sparrows flew into the shrubs and settled in like it was roosting time. It got dark enough for there to be this weird silver-gray shadowy light. I've only seen that kind of lighting during an eclipse. Wind kicked up during the height of the eclipse which surprised me a little. 93-95% here. I took some time-lapse video and photos through our solar telescope that look decent. Some awesome sun spots!

Please post the pics & videos.

 

[GardenTillers44]

I'm curious if our chicken cam will show them roosting this afternoon. Did anyone's roos do any extra crowing during the event?

 

[centrarchid]

Totality here! Free-range chickens did not break off from foraging until sun blocked. Light level still sufficient for seeing colors. During totality, which last barely under 2 minutes 28 seconds, all three hens and cock coalesced into one group and headed to area where the hens with chicks roost. Once on pavement the progression stopped. NONE went to roost, I repeat NONE WENT TO ROOST. Once light started to increase birds immediately went back out into yard to forage.


NONE of the birds in barn (free-range or penned) or those in cock pens went to roost. Song birds, cicadas and longhorned grasshoppers hushed only during totality. Juvenile Cardinals and Norther Mockingbirds ceased begging for food only during totality.

Kids wearing shades because their future is so bright.

Son taking a break from flying airplane.

Daughter messing with cat that sleeps through whole event.

Funky shadows evident in the woods although we do not check them out. Not enough time. About 90%.

Getting dark fast now. Kids actually taking notice. I am getting excited.

Just before birds start moving back to roost. They are about 35 yards away from roost.

Missouri Dominque hen a little closer from a different direction. She is starting to say uh oh.

Almost there. Chickens moving back to roost area by this time.

Totality with a camcorder.

As close as we get to the roost which was to the right of photograph view.

Game hen and Missouri Dominque heading back into yard.

Blanca dust bathing with only about 5% of sun back out from behind moon. Everything darker than camera recorded.

 

[GardenTillers44]

barred2rock: "Please post the pics & videos."

I'll work on it when I get home tonight. Photos for sure. The vids are very hi-res large files so I may not get them small enough to post.

 

[theoldchick]

My roosters crowed when the the sunlight returned. And one went in his morning mating mode. Nobody roosted.

 

[GardenTillers44]

centrarchid: Totality here!

 

[TomZilla43]

I live in White House Tn, we were almost in the dead center of the totality path. I actually went over to my father in laws to view it, so I wasn't at home to see my girls. But I was curious and went up to observe his hens. We had 2 minutes and 39 seconds of totality, they didn't go to roost. They all got really quiet and kind of stood around the feeder, you could tell they were confused. Their reaction wasn't what I had expected, I had thought they would go in to the coop like evening was setting in. Once in a lifetime event and I'm curious what the chickens are up to.....yanno I'm chicken obsessed