Minnesota DNR Eagle Cam Marks Ten Years

(KNSI) — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ EagleCam is marking a special milestone this year.

The camera first went up ten years ago, in January 2013, thanks to the Nongame Wildlife Program. It is nestled in a tree next to the nest, where viewers can observe mating pairs of bald eagles incubating their eggs and raising their eaglets. Fifteen chicks have been hatched and raised in those ten years.

The DNR says the female is rebuilding the nest with her new mate. Her previous mate went missing last year, and the new one showed up over the summer. She has inhabited this nest for three years, laying seven eggs and raising five chicks to fledging.

Normally, by mid-February, the female lays two to three eggs. The male and female take turns incubating the eggs for around 35 days. Once they hatch, the camera zooms in so the public can get an up close look at the delicate process of raising the chicks.

According to the DNR, the live stream has thousands of followers who watch from classrooms, workplaces, homes, care facilities, and elsewhere in all 50 states and at least 150 countries.

The mating pairs were no strangers to the DNR. The nest was discovered by staff working in the area in 2003, and scientists have been observing the eagles since then.

Click here to tune in.

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