Eagle Cam
Welcome to the Eagle Cam, a collaboration with Duke Farms, to help raise awareness for nesting bald eagles in New Jersey.
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
2017 Duke Farms Eagle Cam Nest Updates
Update 3/17/2017
Zoom+ DF pair March 16, 2017
The pair isn't yet incubating. Last evening both were in the nest for a short time. The male is on the right and is identified by his leg bands.
Currently in NJ 20 pairs have been reported to have hatched and more will be hatching this weekend. While some pairs only started incubating in the last week, it is getting late for the DF to start incubation this year. We will have to wait and see.
Update 2/16/2017
There has been drama at the Duke Farms nest.
A new female has been seen in the nest, which has been determined by the dark spots in her head and tail, making her a younger bird. Jim Wright posted photos and a blog yesterday.
Later in the day the original female was back and it was reported the younger female was harassing her in the air. There is also the possibility that there are two males involved in the territorial issues. So we'll have to wait and see how it all plays out for the pair.
Update on Duke Farms Alumni "Tiny" D/94
Zoom+ C/94 and new female 2/5/2017@Cyndi Pratt Didan
We have been following one of DF's chicks banded in May 2009. He has been nesting in CT and his mate was a banded bird from MA. Cyndi Pratt Didan who reports on the pair, has now seen "Tiny" with a new female with a green band. So it appears the new female is also a Jersey bird. We haven't yet been able to read the code on her band but hope to in the future, so we'll know when and where she was banded. So a bit of drama up in CT also, we'll continue to report on "Tiny" and his new mate.
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 23 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
2016- 2 chicks
When do the birds start incubating?
In 2016, the pair started incubating on February 18th.
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
2016- 2 chicks- females
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 2016 there were 172 nesting eagle pairs monitored in New Jersey. One hundred fifty of these were active (laid eggs) and 132 were successful in producing 216 young.
To learn more about eagles in New Jersey you can read the
Learn More:
 | 2016 Bald Eagle Project Report - 1.4MB |
 | 2016 Eagle Cam Nest Updates - 102.5KB |
| 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!