Partners:
Three Bridges Eagle Cam
This project is a partnership between multiple organizations to determine the effects of upgrading electrical transmission equipment on nesting bald eagles.
Bald eagles have made an inspiring recovery against overwhelming odds in New Jersey and across the eastern United States. From just a single nesting pair at a failing nest through the early 1980s, eagles have rebounded to over 300 pairs in 2020!
The return of our national symbol has been cheered by New Jerseyans young and old. One site that has been a local favorite has been found at Three Bridges, a community in Readington Township in Hunterdon County. Eagles have nested on top of an electric transmission tower since 2015 and have successfully raised 14 young.
The line of towers was replaced by monopoles, PSE&G worked with Conserve Wildlife Foundation, NJDFW Endangered and Nongame Species Program, and US Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that the Three Bridges eagles would have every opportunity to continue nesting here. PSE&G designed and installed a nest platform on the new monopole and placed the original nest on the platform once it was erected. The pair returned to the tower and used the new nesting platform in Feb. 2020. The pair raised two young that were banded, H/04 & H/05. The eagle cam was fixed at the time of banding. Both young fledged the end of June, but H/05 was found grounded July 4th. He was taken to The Raptor Trust for rehabilitation and after healing, he was released back at the nest site.
2021-22 Three Bridges Nesting Season Updates:
The Three Bridges eagle cam will be turned off March 31st at 5pm.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and viewed this eagle cam.
March 9th, 2022
It looks like the Three Bridges pair has chosen another location to nest this season. The camera still captures some interesting wildlife. On Monday March 7th there was alot of activity at the nest platform; a pair of mating kestrels, an adult and an immature eagle both visited the nest platform. The camera will be turned off the end of March if there continues to be no nesting activity.
March 7th, 2022
March 7th, 2022. Immature eagle visits nest platform
March 7th, 2022: American Kestrels mating
February 25th
No eggs have been laid at the nest and the eagles are being seen infrequently. There is a strong possibility that the pair is nesting in another location. Yesterday 2/24/22 an adult eagle was seen on the cam and one was even defending the nest from a red-tailed hawk. If the pair is nesting somewhere else, then they could still consider the tower their territory. We don't know for certain if this eagle was from the 3B pair. We will have to wait and see what happens over the next few weeks.
2_24_22; eagle defends nest from hawk
February 17th
After not being seen on the cam for a week, the pair showed up early this morning. They mated twice and worked on the nest. They were there for a little over an hour. Hopefully we'll see them more over the next few days as they get closer to laying eggs.
February 17, 2022
February 17th, 2022
February 17th, 2022
February 10th
On Tuesday February 8th the Three Bridges pair brought grass to the nest and mated several times. But were not seen at the nest on Wednesday or Thursday. We are still two weeks out from when they laid eggs in 2021.
Zoom+ 2_8_22
Zoom+ 2_8_22 mating
Zoom+ 2_8_22
January 28
eagle project volunteer Diane Cook, put together this video from earlier today, showing an adult flying and perched at the tower.
The Three Bridges eagle monitors have been kept busy the past few weeks. The pair has made only a few appearances on the nest cam. There is another nest in the area and eagles have been seen at that nest.
We aren't sure if the Three Bridges pair is the pair seen on the second nest or not. The nest monitors report seeing other eagles both adults and immatures in the area. Nest monitor Mary Ellen Hill got this photo of an adult with a pheasant near the second nest.
January 25, 2022 by Mary Ellen Hill
Last season the Three Bridges pair didn' start incubating until Feb. 24th. If they are on the same schedule this season then we are still a few weeks away from egg laying. Two adults were seen on the eagle cam Jan. 27th.
January 27, 2022
Jan. 9
Diane Cook captured these screenshots this morning of the pair in front of a beautiful sunrise and mating.
Zoom+ January 9, 2022
Zoom+ January 9th, 2022
Jan. 8
An American Kestrel has been seen perched on the tower. Yesterday Mary Ellen Hill captured this screenshot of the Kestrel and eagle perched very close together.
January 8, 2022
Dec. 15
The live stream began shortly before 7:00am. Viewers were greeted by a beautiful sunrise.
Dec. 13
We're proud to annouce a new feature for Three Bridges Eagle Cam fans to connect and learn from each other. Viewers will be able to chat with other viewers from around the world about this nest and bald eagle management in New Jersey. This feature is being made possible with support from PSE&G and our Bald Eagle Project volunteers, who will act as moderators. Chat will be available when eagles are more active and moderators are available to participate in the live chat. Our goal is to ensure that chat remains a friendly place for viewers to be able to share their thoughts and encourage all to read our live chat policy for commenting.
Dec 8
The new live stream is set to begin on Dec. 15 at 7am. You can read more on the Conserve Wildlife Blog.
Learn more:
-
2021 Three Bridges blog posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 , Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 & Part 7.
- View/download an informational flyer
Contact us:
Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager: Email
Larissa Smith, Wildlife Biologist: Email
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