Baldheaded eagle webcam

[shootingstar]

Eagle webcam (which I'm sure there's several worldwide). Right now, the eagle in relation to cam, looks photogenic.

http://www.hornbyeagles.com/webcam.htm Hornby Island is one of the Gulf Islands off the coast Vancouver Island.

[PamNY]

Thanks for the link -- that's wonderful. I can't wait to see babies. I hope they can back off enough to show branching, etc.

Our hawks just hatched, but the babies aren't very visible yet. Sometimes I wish we could get a webcam on our nest -- other times I am glad we have to let them retain their mystery and magic.

[bmccasland]

Cool! Hopefully the eggs will hatch and we'll get to see them fledge. :)

[badger]

I think the more proper term is Bald eagle, not bald headed.

From wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_eagle): Bald in the English name is derived from the word piebald, and refers to the white head and tail feathers and their contrast with the darker body.

[Bike Chick]

How cool! This is wonderful. Thanks for the link.

[runningteach]

Thanks for the link!

[Bike Chick]

Ok, I admit that I am hooked on these eagles. I even have a link on my browser at work and sneak peeks throughout the day. This is so interesting!

[shootingstar]

Just saw the eagle move around and saw the eggs..now. Then gone, now that mother or father sat on them.

[PamNY]

Sigh... a big chunk of my life is now controlled by reproducing raptors. I came back from watching the hawk babies in person and immediately checked the eagles online.

It is fascinating to get a close view of how they keep the eggs warm and covered. I had wondered how they roll the eggs -- now I can watch! She was vocalizing a lot tonight -- maybe hungry? She also was working with some nesting material that looked like moss. At first I thought it was dinner, but it wasn't.

Apparently the eggs are due to hatch soon!

[Bike Chick]

I saw that too. So are we having eaglets soon???? Fascinating!

[badger]

I must say this one's a better quality one than the ones I've seen before. I hope the chicks make it!

[PamNY]

Babes are expected May 1. There's a good bit of information on the site if you browse around -- like how to tell the parents apart. Same as hawks, the females are bigger, but that's hard to judge if you aren't looking at them together. Eagle mom's head looks messier -- like she needs to comb her feathers. I think (not sure) dad is on the nest right now.

Yes, I hope the chicks make it. I have 5 or 6 baby hawks in Manhattan to worry about, and now these two. I'm going to be a wreck.:p

[PamNY]

First pip hole today and you can hear the babies chirping!

[Bike Chick]

How long does it take from pip hole to eaglet? I watched that nest all day. I'm so excited!

[PamNY]

According to this article (http://friendsofblackwater.org/wordpress/eagle10/2010/02/22/the-hatching-process/), it takes about 24 hours from pip hole to hatch. I'm not sure when this pip hole appeared -- I guess no one can be certain.

I think it was first commented on in the Hornby forum this afternoon. So maybe tomorrow?

[Flybye]

One of the eaglets is half way out of the shell :cool:

[PamNY]

I got a quick look at the baby this morning. Also saw Mom (I think) moving a piece of eggshell. At this point they are treating the baby as if he's still an egg.
I know they don't start feeding right away -- anyone know how long that takes?

[Norse]

The eaglet is getting fed right now.

[PamNY]

I got to see two eagle feedings today! Eagle baby was just starting dinner when I came home from seeing my local hawk babies! How lovely to have raptors in two different time zones.

[staceysue]

Thanks for the link. Now everybody at my work's addicted to eaglecam!

[Bike Chick]

I got to see the eaglet feeding tonight too. This is so fascinating. I'm really enjoying watching this family. Our office is tripped into it too, staceysue!

[salsabike]

I forwarded this to all the teachers at my elementary school and half of the classrooms were watching it today. It was great. One of the 5th grade teachers kept calling me in my office and saying, "You better come see! It's totally out of the shell!"

[PamNY]

There is a discussion group here (http://www.ournaturezone.com/index.php). Because we all need to spend even more time on this, right?

They have named the baby Phoenix.

[shootingstar]

:rolleyes: Hey great, people are enjoying and learning as they watch.


Meanwhile some of us "closer" to the eagles' home nest, still didn't catch seeing the babies yet. I checked late this afternoon but one of the parents seemed to be watching over a twiggy hole in nest. :confused: Or was sitting on top, etc.

Anyway another day to see.

[Jones]

I just saw the eaglet geting fed, so cool. I made my husband watch.

[Catrin]

Somehow I missed this post yesterday, but am watching now :D Pity I missed the hatching but they are so cool to watch!

Ok, I must go to the store...go to the store...there is no food in my apartment...go to the store :p

[shootingstar]

Beautiful view of sitting eagle right now.
I did manage to see baby being tucked underneath parent's wing a few days ago but haven't checked again until now.

I take for granted this creature in our area..that I forgot to send the link back to friend and family back in Ontario.

[PamNY]

Family squabble! Dad flew in, decided to move one of the nest sticks. Mom disagreed and grabbed other end of stick; two majestic raptors played tug-of-war for a few seconds. Mom prevailed and the stick stayed where it was. Commotion woke the baby who said "Eeep! Eeep!" Mom finally fed baby; dad flew off in a huff.

Okay, "huff" is anthropomorphic, but it sure looked that way.

[Bike Chick]

There's a pip in the second egg!

[arielmoon]

This is very cool! Thanks for the link!

[PamNY]

The Hornby nest discussion group seem to think the second egg won't hatch. I thought there was a pip, but perhaps it was just a bit of dirt?

[TrekTheKaty]

I can't believe I missed this! We have a lot of bald eagles here in Missouri--we even have one along our bike trail. If you get up early enough, you'll see him fish for breakfast. But I don't think I've seen a webcam with with audio!

Gotta go--Dad just joined Mom in the nest :D

[Bike Chick]

Careful, Trek, you'll get hooked. It's fascinating. We have a nest along the Tunnel Hill trail too but you only get a glimpse of the eagles flying to and from. This is so awesome to actually peer inside.

It doesn't look like the second age is going to hatch, does it?

[makbike]

First, my students and I love this site. Since I introduced them to it earlier this week they have come into class each day asking if they can see the eagles. We check in on them for a few minutes each class period.

Second, anyone know what happened to the egg that did not hatch? It was in the nest last night. I just checked in and it is nowhere to be seen.

Third, did you know the adults stash food around the perimeter of the nest? I just watched "dad" return to relieve "mom." Phoenix appeared to be hungry and "dad" began combing the fringe of the nest only to pull out a fish which he then shared with Phoenix. So cool!

[PamNY]

I noticed the missing egg, too. I've read that eagles eat the eggs that don't hatch but don't quote that.

Yes, I love the way raptors stack food on their nests. With the red tail hawks I watch in person, sometimes it's really piled up. The dad hawk recently brought fresh food for the baby hawks and took some older food away for himself.

Glad your students are enjoying the wonderful baby eagle.

[Norse]

The egg is still there, surprisingly. Perhaps it was covered by nesting material before. I am so addicted to this thing and now I have half my family addicted.

[salsabike]

I just saw Dad feeding the baby. When the baby seemed satisfied, Dad called Mom, and there was a changing of the guard.

[Bike Chick]

The baby has really grown too, hasn't he? He's not the bobblehead he was last week.

[Norse]

Where's the baby?!?

Update: Never mind! It wandered out of camera view and for awhile. How upset was I thinking baby had fallen out or been snagged by a predator?! Goodness, this baby sure has captivated me.

[jeannierides]

Here's a nest I watch in Maryland... My SO and I ride each year w/Terry Bikes through Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge...

http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html

[PamNY]

Jeanierides, thanks for the link. I would so love to watch an eagles' nest.

Norsegoddess, I always worry when I can't see the baby eagle. We've had such bad luck with the baby hawks in the nests I watch that it's made me a pessimist (and I know a high mortality rate is normal, but still).

Here's a webcam (http://www.falcons.55water.com/) on a falcon's nest in lower Manhattan, very close to where I live. The water in the background is the East River.

[PamNY]

Baby eagle has big talons! They seemed to appear over night. And he's a bit clumsy with them.

[Bike Chick]

No kidding! Where did those feet come from all of a sudden???

[jeannierides]

PamNY, there is an osprey nest associated w/Blackwater too... just click on it when you're looking at the eagles... the osprey eggs should hatch around May 30!:)

[PamNY]

PamNY, there is an osprey nest associated w/Blackwater too... just click on it when you're looking at the eagles... the osprey eggs should hatch around May 30!:)

Oooh, baby ospreys. So exciting! This will give me something to do after the baby eagle fledges.

[PamNY]

Baby eagle tried to feed himself tonight. The parent ate first despite the baby's chirping. Perhaps this is a teaching method?

Baby tried eating a stick but that didn't seem to work out. I think he got a bite or two of food on his own.

[PamNY]

Here's a red tail hawk nest at the Franklin Institute. These babies are due to fledge soon.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-franklin-institute-haw-cam

[Norse]

Just in case anyone needs another distraction, Loon cam: http://www.kare11.com/life/lifestyle/mnbound/default.aspx. There are two eggs in the nest and they should hatch soon.

[PamNY]

Beautiful loon! Not so much action at this point, but I've been watching her for a five-minute relaxation break. The blog is informative, too.

Baby eagle Phoenix is growing up. In this clip (http://www.youtube.com/user/BeautifulEagles#p/a/u/0/eTLYbNAAZ18), she grabs a fish the parent has brought and I think she's mantling after she grabs it. Mantling is spreading the wings, which some birds do when they catch prey.

[Norse]

Beautiful loon! Not so much action at this point, but I've been watching her for a five-minute relaxation break. The blog is informative, too.

Yeah, I don't think there will be much action until the eggs hatch - which should be any day now.

[Norse]

Unfortunately, the loon eggs in that nest did not make it this year. Larry retrieved the remaining egg last night to let the parents get on with their loon lives. The egg was about 10 days past hatch date, and it smelled like a rotten egg. Anyway, here is a beautiful photo of what we were hoping to see: http://www.northernimages.com/Wildlife/Birds/Loons/6795451_9RWtm#434264480_xci53-L-LB.

Meanwhile, the young eagle is certainly getting bigger quickly and looks like most of the feathers have grown in.

[PamNY]

Thanks for the beautiful loon image. So disappointing about the eggs, but I enjoyed watching the loon and reading the blog. And I'm keeping the site bookmarked for next year!

[PamNY]

Mom and Dad eagle had a disagreement about a fish head (http://www.wildearth.tv/web/dch-hornby-01;jsessionid=62204474477EE88F95D549B6CBF382B7.node3?streamId=dch-hornby-01%2F2010%2F06%2F30%2F2010-06-30-08-31_dch-hornby-01.flv&bspId=93518&start=0).

[badger]

um, did the baby fledge? there's nobody in the nest!


oh, nevermind. I see him at the very far corner of the nest and can barely be seen by the camera. phew!

[salsabike]

Wow! Loon photo is SO gorgeous.

[PamNY]

The young eagle Phoenix (as she's dubbed by the Hornby nest discussion group) is lethargic and panting. According to what I've read in the discussion group, Doug Carrick is working with a rehabber to get her out of the nest and examined. If she's determined to be okay, she will be returned to the nest.

She is due to fledge very soon. I hope she's okay.

[badger]

oh my gosh, I had to turn the camera off, she looks like she's struggling, with her wings splayed out :( I hope she'll be okay!!

[PamNY]

Badger, I know. I had to stop watching, too. The facility where she will go has a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountainaire-Avian-Rescue-Society/119843378113?v=photos#!/pages/Mountainaire-Avian-Rescue-Society/119843378113?v=wall).

[salsabike]

Phoenix is gone, you guys. I'm really sad and sorry to have to tell you. They posted the news on their FB page.

[badger]

gone as in dead?! god, that's awful :( he was still there a couple of hours ago. How did it go so wrong? he was doing so well!

[salsabike]

This is what they posted:

Doug and Sheila Carrick, the Hornby Eagle Group and friends, are shocked and saddened to report the sudden collapse and death of our beloved Phoenix. A rescue effort was underway, but his decline was sudden and swift. We ask that you remember him by supporting the work of the Mounainnaire Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (http://wingbeats.info/), who would have moved heaven and earth to help. We love you Phoenix, and we mourn with Mom and Dad Hornby.

[badger]

that is just so awful, I hope Phoenix didn't suffer for very long. I guess this is the cruel fact of nature, but it's all the more distressing when you've been following the progress all along. As much as I wonder what will happen to the body, or if the video would still be running, or how the parents are reacting, I think I will just have to close this chapter. I hope the parents have better luck next year.

:(

[Bike Chick]

I got the same post on FB. Does anyone know what happened? I was shocked! Phoenix was doing so well.

[PamNY]

Putting together what I saw and what's in the discussion group: Phoenix had little appetite yesterday, and last night was panting and lethargic. From what I saw, I'd say she didn't suffer for very long. The Wildearth site has a statement saying they'd been concerned about her condition for several days.

Someone mentioned necropsy in the discussion group, so perhaps we will find out what happened. I hope Mom and Dad are okay.

[badger]

I made the mistake of seeing the webcam, and I see that he's still there :*( I wonder if the parents will keep coming back until they realize he's gone?

I remember this one time when in my neighbourhood a crow had fledged. But he was on the road, so risking being mauled by the parents, I moved him to off the road. When I came back home later that day, I noticed that he had moved back onto the road and that he had been run over. The parents were squawking at him for over a day and they finally gave up :(

[badger]

I'm surprised they have the webcam still running, and more surprised that there isn't a blurb on there saying that he's died. I don't have facebook, so if I hadn't seen it here, I wouldn't have known any different looking at the webcam this morning.

[PamNY]

They are discussing in chat whether the camera should still be on. Chat tends toward the sentimental, so people are expressing that they want it on for emotional reasons.

I think it should be on for a while so that parental behavior can be observed (if they come to the nest). And I would love to observe the body removal. It would be nice if there were a way to post a notice. I don't do Facebook either; just happened to check in last night.

[badger]

so I was a bit mopey this morning about Phoenix's death, so my co-worker who also followed Phoenix's development (much more closely than me, actually) forwarded me a link to the eagles' nests in Vancouver (http://www.stanleyparkecology.ca/programs/conservation/urbanWildlife/eagles/eagleMap.php). They've been surprisingly successful with 13 chicks nearing fledge age.

I also found a web cam on one of the nests in a very industrial area. Not as great as the one on Hornby, but it's still good. You have to scroll down a bit on the site, and the second camera works (first one didn't work for me).
http://www.hancockwildlife.org/index.php?topic=LaFargeEagleNest

[badger]

I notice that Phoenix's body is gone now. Would you please update me if you find anything out on the necropsy (if they're doing one)?

the nest looks so empty now :(

[PamNY]

The death of Phoenix was reported in a local newspaper (http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/blogs/Hornby+Island+eaglet+dead+body+retrieved+from+nest/3283135/story.html).

Phoenix was so big -- I saw video of the recovery of his body, and was just amazed to realize how much he'd grown in so short a time. I do miss the baby.

[badger]

yeah, I saw that article. I guess it's not so surprising as I'm super sensitive, anyways, but his death's been weighing so heavily in my mind today.

I know this is nature and that animals die every day, but I guess because we've been watching him thrive it's that much more devastating. Do you know if the parents have been seen back at the nest at all?

[PamNY]

According to observers, the parents are nearby. Mom was in the "babysitting tree" while the body was removed, and Dad was flying with another adult and an immature.

I haven't seen any mention of them being on the nest (but they discuss a lot in chat, so I may have missed it).

The death of a wild animal is truly a loss if you have grown to know and love them.

[badger]

my friend, who followed Phoenix's development daily and took his death very hard, forwarded me this very inspirational and uplifting eagle rehab story (http://www.sarveywildlife.org/Story.aspx?id=7)

[salsabike]

Pam and Badger, you remind me that the world is a better place because people like you care so much about this. Thanks. It comforts me in some goofy way.

[badger]

Phoenix's death has affected me quite profoundly. It's re-igniting my passion for animal welfare, and when it's financially feasible, I want to take Animal Health Technician diploma (Vet Tech), and get into animal rehab.

I'm also glad to know that you and Pam care so much, too :)

[badger]

my friend forwarded me this. It was an infection, and it was rapid-onset. And Phoenix was a girl. I'm glad at least that it wasn't anything like rat poison or other human-caused death.

First report on Phoenix from the pathologists

Today at 3:20pm

This morning we received the preliminary findings from the necropsy
performed on Phoenix.

Phoenix was a female. She died from acute bilateral mycotic pneumonia.

Other tests results will become available over the next week, and will
confirm the causative agent.

Because Phoenix's death was caused by an infectious disease, sadly,
she cannot be returned to Hornby Island for interment.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Maj Birch (Mountainaire Avian Rescue),
Dr. Schwantje (wildlife veterinarian, British Columbia Ministry of
Environment) and Dr. Bowes (avian pathologist for the British Columbia
Animal Health Laboratory) for their dedication and determination to
learn as much from Phoenix as they could.

A.J.L., on behalf of Doug Carrick and the Hornby Eagle Group.

Terms:
Acute: rapid onset
Bilateral: both lungs
Mycotic: fungal
Pneumonia: inflammatory lung condition

[Norse]

I just returned from a 4-day bike tour - AIDs fundraiser - and learned of Phoenix' passing. Damn ............... this saddens me deeply.

[PamNY]

Final report (http://www.ournaturezone.com/index.php?topic=355.msg22616#new) on Phoenix.

Doesn't provide much new information, but it's interesting that such care was taken with her case.

[Norse]

Thanks for that final update Pam. I take some small amount of comfort in knowing that getting her to help quicker would not have saved her. Still, so sad. :(