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Raptor Resource Project
34 mins
Cam Update!
We decided to turn on the cams this year a little bit early, since we are very interested to see how each eagle pair will interact with the active nest at each location. We are on the edge of our seats waiting to see how the coming courtship and bonding activities will play out. We have a little bit more work to do on equipment prep and winterizing of equipment on the ground, but want your help logging any activity that is happening at the nests - especially this year! So thanks for your patience as we ramp up to full normal camera operations in the coming weeks and we hope to be hearing your early reports of nest building activity at both N2B and the new starter nest to the north!
Decorah Eagles
The Decorah Eagle cameras are now broadcasting live 24/7 video again and although we've only seen a few mice come out to play, we're anxious to see Mom Decorah and DM back on cam. The N2B nest measures approximately 5ft high x 6ft wide. This year we added a 4K camera and new microphones at both N1 and N2B. We have 3 PTZ cameras and a fixed cam at N2B, as well as 2 PTZ cams and a fixed cam at N1. There is also a PTZ camera on the visitor center that is slated for replacement before spring. The 4K cam has a wiper blade for cleaning and seeing more clearly in the rain. We've used this kind of camera to catch incredible footage of peregrine falcons at Great Spirit Bluff and are hoping that it works well here too. The eagles have never seen wiper blades in motion, so we will be exercising caution using it until they are well into the nesting season. The crew left a nice gift of 12 fish at the N2B nest and most of them were snatched by a sub-adult bald eagle before Mom Decorah or DM found them. Video here:
https://youtu.be/4oOKkpVGJlMDecorah North Eagles
The Decorah North Nest cameras are now broadcasting live 24/7 video again and we've spotted a squirrel and a couple of mice. We are anxious to see Mr and Mrs North back on cam and checking out the new digs we constructed for them. The new starter nest for The North's is roughly 7ft x 6ft. While the 'short side' nearest the tree is shorter, the nest is built out more. It is quite large - about 42 square feet. We added a 4K cam and microphone, and kept the other cams in place for a total of 3 PTZ cameras and a fixed cam on the nest tree and the Pasture PTZ cam to provide clearer views of the eagles when they are perched along the creek. The 4K cam has a wiper blade for cleaning and seeing more clearly in the rain. We've used this kind of camera to catch incredible footage of peregrine falcons at our Great Spirit Bluff nest, and are anxious to see how it works here when needed. The eagles have never seen wiper blades in motion, so we will be exercising caution using it until they are well into the nesting season.
You may have noticed that the starter platform sits a little higher and is more level overall than the nest that collapsed, but it is in a much more sturdy and stable. We're very curious to see how they amend and modify their new digs and Mrs North may not need to build up a big stairway to the Ladder Branch as she has in previous years.
Mississippi River Flyway Cam
That cam is currently down. We think the power failed following days of clouds and rain. We're waiting - maybe more like begging! - for a little sun to charge the panels. If the cam stays off once the sun comes back, we'll check into it.
Woo-hoo! An eagle flew into the new North nest and ate the fish we left for it! We'll have some more details on the nest and new cameras and microphones tomorrow, but for now, we're very happy to have a visitor!
https://youtu.be/sYCZcAeOEbgWe were also thrilled to see a Black-Crowned Night Heron at our Mississippi River Flyway cam yesterday:
https://youtu.be/9YANfnlX-oM. Unlike most herons, Black-Crowned Night Herons are primarily active at dusk and after dark. They are one of the seven heron species that engages in bait fishing; luring or distracting fish by tossing edible or inedible buoyant objects into water within their striking range. You can learn more about this very cool bird here:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-crowned_Night-Heron/overview.
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Topic: Flyway Cam NFWR La Crosse (Read 408048 times)