Just about a year ago, I started a thread with a link to a live webcam situated above a bald eagle nest in Iowa (old thread here). It was a lot of fun watching the eggs hatch, watching the parents feed the eaglets, watching them grow, learn to fly, etc.
I’m starting the thread a little earlier this year- the eggs have not been laid yet. The eagles have been rebuilding the nest & mating. From what I understand the eggs are usually laid 4-10 days after successful mating.
Here is a link to the webcam; the male was on the nest when I started typing but seems to have departed.
Thanks for starting this! Will check back … it was a lot of fun watching them. I loved how, while the parents were taking turns on the eggs, each one would rearrange the sticks, and then the other one would re-rearrange.
“This stick goes here.”
“No, it goes HERE.”
“Here.”
“He- oh, fuck it, I’ll just move it back once you’re gone.”
“Oh yeah? Well, I’ll put it where it BELONGS once YOU’RE gone!”
Another thanks for starting this. I love to watch birds live like this.
Later on, would you mind, Bumbershoot, if I include a link to a peregrine falcon camera? There’s a nest box on the utilities building in our city, with a live camera that has three different angles.
The female laid egg #2 last night; here is an interesting article about the eagles with a photo of Mama under a blanket of snow after laying the second egg.
This pair has a history of laying three eggs, so another could be on the way. It usually takes 35-37 days for the eggs to hatch.
Little bump in case anyone hasn’t seen the link yet, and also to brag that when I checked it earlier, I caught it just as one parent was swooping in to switch shifts, and caught sight of all three eggs while they were swapping off. It’s fun to see the parent settle down eevvveerrrrr ssssoooooooo ccccaaaaaaarrrrrefffffffuuuullllllllyyyyyyy over their eggs.
Cool! The “bowl” containing the eggs is surprisingly deep, isn’t it? And they pull grass in and tuck it around them to fill in any gaps. Gotta keep them eggs warm!
When I checked this morning it was snowing on Mama. She had flakes on her head and back but seemed unperturbed.
I don’t know how many people are following this, but the first egg is in the process of hatching. A pip (small “starter” hole in the egg)was confirmed at 2 pm CDT. They can take 24-48 hours to completely emerge.
I got the chance this afternoon to show my little girl how the mama protects her eggs and keeps them warm even when it’s storming outside. That cam is just like magic to her.
I’ve been watching for awhile, and have caught sight of the eggs a number of times. Haven’t seen any pips or cracking, however.
Mom does look funny when she prepares to sit down on the eggs again. Waddle waddle, waggle waggle, squat, no no that’s not quite right, waddle, waggle, squat, AHHHHH.
