The Eagle WebCam is now up and running...

[Topaz]

http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html

This is just the most interesting thing. It was in the top 10 video sites for
2007. The eagles have built a new nest, and mated. You can see slide shows
on that site that show it all.

Last year I found this live stream when the chicks were already hatched.
This year it appears I am early and will get to see it all!

Don't miss this, it is stunning. How wonderfully they take care of their
babies, and how they develop etc. Last season all 3 eggs hatched and
flew off in the end. :basic44:

It looks like the camera is BETTER than last season!
Try full screen...it is fantastic!

[Topaz]

Last year the first egg was laid on 1-31.

I just saw the Mom fly into the nest, and she was very careful how
she settled in.

If you have trouble viewing the small screen live stream, right click on it
in your browser and make it full screen. I have DSL and sometimes it is slow,
but making it full screen, fixes it for some reason.

When the eggs hatch the action becomes very interesting. The big birds are
very tender with the babies and the babies do not fight for food. They line up politely and take turns.

[animallady]

:basic44: I've been checking in on the cam off and on today. Just saw one of the eagles in the nest. So exciting!!! Thanks for this fantastic site!


:basic44:

[Topaz]

that explains everything...and has archives:

http://www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/EagleCam.shtml

To think these beautiful birds were almost extinct!

Beware...this web cam site is addicting!

[Topaz]

The first egg was laid Feb 1st after sunset.... and the eagle Mother was
attacked by a Great horned Owl!

It appears that the owls want to take over the nest.
There are infrared night pics of this but they are hard to make out.

Today she is sitting on the nest...guarding the egg.

[Topaz]

It is posted on the website.

Right now she is sitting on both, and panting...must be warm there!

[Shotzie]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"] I live in Napa CA and they just brought a Eagle to all the schools for the children to see, I wish I had known I would of gone to see these magnificent birds. Like the principal said "Once in a lifetime to see this"
Hope the link works.

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/02/09/news/local/doc47ad4cb6d91b1059761198.txt

[Topaz]

I agree... that must have been a great show!

That link was great to see! Thanks for posting it!:zm10:

[Topaz]

There are 3 eggs now for her to take care of. And the storm out there,
is dreadful. She is hanging in there very well so far.

After the first egg, it was 80 degrees and she was panting from the heat.
Now I bet she wishes she had some.

[Topaz]

Over the past 4 days, this eagle nest has come under attack by other eagles who want it for themselves.

It appears now, that all 3 eggs are dead now (due to lack of incubation)

The original female who built this nest with her mate has been driven off.

It is still unclear as to who is who however.
This forum has some discussion and explanation:
http://www.hostingphpbb.com/forum/index.php?mforum=raptors

It is hoped that the new couple will raise eaglets in the nest still, since
the season is still open. Only time will tell.:z0tdntknw:

[Topaz]

Two eggs were retrieved from the disputed territory/nest.
Here is the article explaining it:

http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_021908_eagle_eggs.ae8540e.html

Maybe the new pair will take it over now, and we will still get to see
the wonder of new eaglets being born and taken care of.

[Topaz]

The original pair of eagles have been at the nest for two days now. The intruder female has not been seen.

The biologists watching are hoping for a new clutch of eggs.
I saw the eagles there this morning! There is hope.

[lost indie]

The original pair of eagles have been at the nest for two days now. The intruder female has not been seen.

The biologists watching are hoping for a new clutch of eggs.
I saw the eagles there this morning! There is hope.

Topaz...that is the coolest thing ever...

http://bestsmileys.com/thankyou/1.gif

[Topaz]

This webcab is just so very special. When the eggs hatch and one gets to see the babies feed and develop it is really fun then.

Today are photos captured by the gardens showing the original
pair of eagles mating again. There may be more eggs coming.

The intruder female appears to be long gone. So there is hope there will be a live nest soon.

[Sumanadevii]

I am happy the original pair are back together. I was pretty sore at the female intruder! And you know, it was just as much the man's fault! He ran off with her!!!!!!

[lost indie]

The eagle is there.....

this is awesome!!!

:s1gyahoo:

[Topaz]

There is a new article on wvec about it today.

You know the eagles are just coming back after being very scarce. So I guess there are many complications involving nesting, squabbles, etc. Before for decades there were not enough of them to really fight much. And males may be at a premium? I know this female lost her first mate to an airplane collision.
The last nest had one male and 2 females fledge.

So we will just have to keep watching!

[lost indie]

I keep the cam up full screen quite often. DH and I will watch it for long periods of time.

This morning was the first time I saw the eagle and called DH in. There we sit...mouths open and fully entertained....

I have to laugh....if one of the camera operators was a wise-azz and startled us all with a "monster" jumping out of nowhere....

there would probably be plenty heart attacks...

:s1gyahoo:

It's so surreal to be watching eagles in Norfolk from the warmth of my bed.

Thanks again for the hours of enjoyment Topaz...

:0012::girl_haha::hifive:

[lost indie]

This webcab is just so very special. When the eggs hatch and one gets to see the babies feed and develop it is really fun then.

Today are photos captured by the gardens showing the original
pair of eagles mating again. There may be more eggs coming.

The intruder female appears to be long gone. So there is hope there will be a live nest soon.

I did see them mating. Oh man...I hope there are eggs!

A couple of years ago we saw a robin laying her eggs in a nest on our eaves. It was so cool to watch them grow and watch her care for them.

I would love to watch the nest construction. We took down the robin's nest after she left and that sucker was sturdy. I always scatter my dog fur in the yard and it ends up in lots of nests. Absolutely amazing,,,,,

ETA...when the robin eggs came out they were in like a white mucus...no robin egg blue at all...

[spike404]

[QUOTE=lost indie;137861] "...I always scatter my dog fur in the yard and it ends up in lots of nests....."

QUOTE]

I read the above, and thought, "Why is a dog on a message board?"

LOL I couldn't help but laugh!

[Topaz]

There was a terrible storm...April about.

The eaglet chicks were about 3 wks old, but not old enough to stand
cold yet. I had to work that day (it was a Sunday) and one of the delivery computers was on near me (I don't have internet) so the supervisor and I watched on and off on her terminal the horrible weather this mother endured for her babies. She sat on them and protected them and they survived!

On the same weekend further north was the National Geographic eagle cam,
and those eaglet babies died during the same storm. (in Maine).

Here is the link to Nat Geo... when that nest starts it is good to watch too.

This link shows one of those doomed chicks hatching:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/04/070416-eagle-video.html

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/baldeaglecam/
Watch after the commercial autoloads, and see last year's nest in Maine was attacked, before the eggs came.
This video gives the sound effects of that altercation...so you can hear their voices!

That web cam audience was very upset when the babies died!

But the Norfolk eaglets survived...this female was very very devoted.
I hope we will see the chicks this year. The camera is so much better, this season!

[Topaz]

The sun is rising on our Mom eagle this morning. I am watching her rearrange the sticks in the nest, and then she sat down to BROOD. Perhaps there is an egg there now?

It is a beautiful sunrise in Norfolk and she looks very regal and calm there this morning!

[Topaz]

Well, the eagles are working on the nest every day.

This weekend the video seems to be down alot. But instead I found some
nice videos at YouTube. They have music/guitar accompanying them and are
really nice.

This one is a montage from last year's nest and is an example of what we may see this season if the female lays a new clutch of eggs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyCKj9j4dSM&NR=1

This one is from yesterday, showing the male struggling with a large stick
to frame the nest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKPDz-ovDdU

There are other videos on YouTube as well. Take a look!

[Topaz]

This is a very moving and beautiful YouTube with beautiful
music as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU5CU0uIsR8&feature=related

This is a montage of the best photos of last year.

I keep praying that we will have an active nest this season!

[Topaz]

There is another eagle cam in Blackwater Maryland. The second chick there
has just hatched. The camera is above the nest so it is interesting to watch.

However it refreshes every 30 sec...and that is much different than Norfolk's.

http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html
Click on the left link and there is a still photo of the two tiny eaglets in the
nest within the nest area the parents have created for them.

[Topaz]

Has two chicks now...doing very well..and VERY CUTE.
Yesterday and today, the parents are protecting them from the horrible storms that are occurring..

You should take a look..at what the eagles are going thru! It is extreme!

There are some slide shows available showing the eggs hatching!
Very interesting.
http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html

Here is their blog:
http://friendsofblackwater.org/wordpress/eagle08/

[Topaz]

Here is a great video I found today at YouTube.

It is from another eagle cam, I am going to check out:
Barton Cove.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfCkNA8Mwz8&feature=related
It shows a video from last April of an eagle hatching. It is very clear,
and wonderous! How small they are then!

[Topaz]

This video was just posted from Blackwater cam. It shows the very new
eaglet chicks pecking at each other. Mom has to finally sit on them to
stop the action!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiCPG5-QS7E

[annalyzer]

This video was just posted from Blackwater cam. It shows the very new
eaglet chicks pecking at each other. Mom has to finally sit on them to
stop the action!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiCPG5-QS7E


Oh how sweet. :1222423:

[lost indie]

I just saw her LAY HER EGGS!!!!!! It was minutes ago. She's been acting like it all afternoon.

Thanks Topaz......

I think there were two....may have been three...

[Topaz]

I have been hoping we'd get a second chance.

They are remarkable birds. I watch every day too.

The Blackwater cam is also interesting. The chicks there have doubled
in size in one week! Sadly their Dad is not helping the Mom much, but
the babies so far are alert and alive and growing!:love0085:

I am so glad you are enjoying it Indie... I guess you were the last
PM to make my PM box full. I'll empty it out tomorrow sometime.

[Topaz]

Something disturbed the Mother eagle at Norfolk yesterday, and she
accidently broke her eggs. :1187603408.CR.Mothe

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/eaglecam/

They are hopeful she will lay more.

[lost indie]

Something disturbed the Mother eagle at Norfolk yesterday, and she
accidently broke her eggs. :1187603408.CR.Mothe

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/eaglecam/

They are hopeful she will lay more.

I was watching yesterday afternoon and knew something was different....but wasn't sure what it was.

What a bummer....

They didn't waste any time mating again...

:s1gyahoo::s1gyahoo::s1gyahoo:

so there is still hope.....

[Topaz]

The Norfolk eagle has a new egg. Both eagles are taking care of it well so far.
It will be a LONG month waiting.

The chicks at Blackwater are now exploring the nest. The larger chick is aggressive towards the other, who tends to stay away from it. If you watch for a while you can see this behavior.

[Topaz]

Here is a link to another eagle cam that recorded the whistles of the
newly hatched chicks, and the sounds both parents make to each other.

It is really interesting:
http://eaglecam.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-thread.html

and you can watch the parent feed the chicks too.

It was very strange difficult weather at Norfolk over the weekend.
From 81 degrees on Fri to 42 with sleet on Sunday!
When it is hot out, you can see the Mom eagle panting to lower her
body temperature.

[Topaz]

The Falcon cam has newly hatched chicks...
A really close up camera view too..

http://www.wvec.com/cams/jrb4.html

Our mother eagle is due to see a hatching starting on Apr 22 or thereabouts.
She has run 35 days the past two years. But with only one egg she may
have hatching a bit earlier. 30 days is the norm.

So we may see the chick next Tues or a couple days thereafter.
She has been sitting thru sleet storms, 2 days rain storms/winds, and high temps causing her to pant to reduce her own body heat. So I hope this
egg hatches.

[Topaz]

It is in Indiana...

It has two views, and according to their blog, the eggs are due to hatch
any moment now:

http://www2.indystar.com/images/graphics/2004/0322_falconcam.html

The hatching and the first few days are the most exciting, IMO.
Watching them is amazing!

[Topaz]

Finally, the chick has arrived.
This mother has sat thru sleet storms, 80+ degree weather and rain lasting days!

Here is a video clip showing the little chick head, and the mother removing the shell (which she apparently eats to get her calcium back).
Notice she walks around on her knuckles with the talons folded inward to
not damage the baby.

http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/ann-n-va/Raptor%20Pictures/Raptor%20Videos/?action=view&current=shell.flv

This is a photo shot of the parents feeding the chick this morning!
http://www.hostingphpbb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9&start=165&mforum=nbgeagles

It seemed like an eternity waiting for this egg to hatch!