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Eagle Cam
Welcome to the Eagle Cam, a collaboration with Duke Farms.
Bald Eagles are extremely sensitive to human disturbance. At no time should anyone approach nesting eagles. People who want to observe or photograph eagles and who come too close may actually cause the birds to abandon a nest.
Located on Duke Farms in central New Jersey, the Eagle Cam allows viewers an up close and personal view into the lives of a pair of bald eagles as they breed, incubate, and raise young. It is a perfect tool for teaching about wildlife and covers a variety of topics including animal behavior, bird biology and natural history, endangered species, food webs, contamination, and MORE!
>> View the Cam and Interact with Bald Eagle Biologists in New Jersey
>> Read our new e-book: Duke Farms' Bald Eagles
EAGLE NEST UPDATES
July 13th, 2016
The eagle cam is currently not working. Charles Barreca of Duke Farms believes that a part could have been hit by lightening during last weeks storms. They will be checking the system and fixing the camera as soon as possible.
One of the cam viewers took this photo of E-42 yesterday morning. She saw both fledges down by the river, so we know they are both doing well.
Juley 12, 2016. DF E-42 Jill P. Brown
E-42 Jill P. Brown
As of Monday June 20th both chicks have fledged!
Thanks to all cam viewers for another great nesting season.
6/15/16
The chicks are 12 weeks old. Yesterday morning one of the chicks left the nest. According to cam watchers it was unintentional which probably happens alot. A young eagle is practicing flapping and hopping about the nest and finds itself on a lower limb or ground. The cam operator was able to find the chick perched on a branch to the right of the nest.
So far 29 chicks have been reported have fledged throughout New Jersey.
5/25/16
The chicks are nine weeks old already! To read about what to expect over the next few weeks, go to Jim Wright's blog on the Duke Farms website.
May 25th, 2016.
5/16/16
Last night Mom joined the two chicks in the nest.
5/11/2016
The chicks were banded on Monday and all went well. Both chicks now have a green NJ band(E/41 & E/42) and a silver federal band. Both of the chicks are female.
You can see a recording of the banding from the ground HERE. Recording of banding from point of view of this camera is HERE.
So far the banding team has banded 19 chicks at nine nests throughout New Jersey. Some Eagle Cam viewers have noticed that the adults aren't seen in the nest as much. The chicks are getting bigger and the nest is getting crowded. One of the adults is most likely perched close by out of view of the camera, but keeping a close watch on the nest.
5/2/2016
The chicks are hanging out and enjoying the rain free day or partly rain free! This photo gives a good view of the pin feathers (dark feathers).
They are five weeks old and will be banded next Monday the 9th at 9:30am.
4/26/16
The chicks are now a little over four weeks old. You can see that their pin feathers are emerging on their back and wings. Pin feather is a term for newly forming feathers. Pin feather is a term for newly forming feathers. As each feather develops, it is encased in a thin shaft of waxy keratin (like your fingernails) which will eventually fall off or be pulled off by the chicks this allows the new feather to unfurl and grow to its full size. The feathers will emerge beginning with the head, back and then the belly. For the next few weeks the chicks will have a mixture of down and feathers. By eight weeks of age they will be almost fully feathered.
Right now the chicks are very awkward when moving around the nest. Their big yellow feet look huge compared to the rest of their body. Both feet and bill will grow to adult size first, giving them that slightly awkward appearance until their bodies catch up. The bald eagle's rate of growth is faster than any other North American bird, eagle chicks add one pound to their body weight every four or five days.
The nest will be visited by the banding team when they are six weeks old.
I know that many teachers and students watch the eagle cam, you can help by participating in the Eagle Food Observation project.
You can also get updates on the nest at Duke Farms blog posts written by Jim Wright.
3/28/16
The first chick hatched ~5pm on March 26, 2016.
The second chick hatched 8:40am March 28, 2016
Zoom+ 3/28/16 Both chicks have hatched.
1st egg laid: 2/18: expected hatch date: ~3/24
second egg laid: 2/21: expected hatch date: ~3/27
2/21/2016
The female laid the second egg of the 2016 nesting season at around 4:30 PM! Just about three days to the minute since she laid the first egg.
2/18/2016
The first egg was laid today at ~4:29 PM!
1/29/2016
We are happy to report that the eagle cam is back up and running after some technical issues over the last 2 weeks. Thanks to the staff at Duke Farms for getting it fixed despite the cold and snow. So far there are 3 pairs of eagle incubating in NJ. Duke Farms started incubating February 17th last season, so if they follow the same pattern we can expect incubation in a few weeks.
Zoom+ 5/14/15: C/94 DF banded bird with chick in CT nest. C. Pratt Didan
Update on DF alumni C/94
We have been getting updates from Cyndi Pratt Didan in CT, who observers the nest where C/94 (male banded at DF May 2009) and his mate are nesting. Last year they fledged one young and this year they are back at their nest preparing for the nesting season.
Duke Farms Eagle Cam FAQ’s
How long have eagles been nesting at Duke Farms?
The eagle nest at Duke Farms was first discovered in the fall of 2004. The pair started using the nest in 2005. In the fall of 2012 Hurricane Sandy's 70+ mph tore off the upper half of the nest tree, destroying the nest completely (the camera and camera tree were spared). The pair built a new nest 100ft south of the eagle camera in late December 2012. The view of the nest was limited by branches and leaves during the 2013 nesting season.
In what type of tree is the nest located?
In December 2012 the pair built a new nest in a sycamore tree.
How high is the nest?
The nest is about 80 feet high.
How long has the camera been at the nest?
The camera was set up in 2008 and transmitted the picture beginning in March 2008. In the fall of 2013 the camera was moved to the new nest tree.
Zoom+ Duke Farms eagle nest camera.
Where is the camera located?
The camera is in the nest tree positioned above to view the nest from above. The camera can be maneuvered remotely to pan, tilt and zoom.
How many young have been raised in this nest?
A total of 21 eagle chicks have been raised and fledged from this nest since 2005.
2005- 1 chick
2006- 2 chicks
2007- 1 chick
2008- 2 chicks
2009- 3 chicks
2010- 2 chicks
2011- 2 chicks
2012- 1 chick
2013- 2 chicks
2014- 3 chicks
2015- 2 chicks
When do the birds start incubating?
In 2015, the pair started incubating on February 17th.
Are the adult eagles banded?
In 2009 and 2010 it was noted that both the male and female were NJ- banded birds, because they each had a green color band on one leg and a silver federal band on the other. In 2011, however, there was a new female in the pair, which we know because she was not banded.
Have any of the chicks been banded?
Yes, the chicks were banded in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014.
2007- 1 chick- male
2009- 3 chicks- males
2010- 2 chicks-females
2011- 2 chicks- males
2014- 3 chicks- 2 males, 1 female
How is the eagle cam funded?
Duke Farms hosts the eagle camera and the internet connection. The Endangered and Nongame Species Program and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ support their work and conduct the on-site banding and provide biological consulting.
How many eagle nests are in NJ?
In 2015 there were 191 nesting eagle pairs monitored in New Jersey. One hundred fifty of these were active (laid eggs) and 122 were successful in producing 199 young.
To learn more about eagles in New Jersey you can read the
Learn More:
 | 2015 Bald Eagle Project Report - 2.2MB |
| 2015 Eagle Cam Nest Updates - 701.0KB |
| 2014 Eagle Cam Nest Updates - 210.8KB |
| 2014 Bald Eagle Project Report - 4.8MB |
| 2013 Bald Eagle Project Report - 1.0MB |
| 2013 EagleCam Nest Updates - 19.8KB |
| 2012 Bald Eagle Project Report - 1.3MB |
| 2011 EagleCam Nest Updates - 59.8KB |
| 2010 Eagle Cam Nest Updates - 31.0KB |
| Adopt a Species - Bald eagle - 197.5KB |
Find Related Info: Bald Eagles, Raptors
The Return of Bald Eagles in New Jersey Story Map
Use interactive web-mapping and multi-media to learn about the recovery of bald eagles in New Jersey between 1985 & 2015.
Educators!
Download lesson plans and activities to enhance your use of the EagleCam in the classroom! Download fun facts about bald eagles, activities about raptors, journaling pages for students, and MUCH MORE!
