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.
The Three Bridges Cam will be turned off for the season on April 1st, 2024
March 14th 2024
The Eagle pair didn't nest on the platform this season. But there has been regular vists by a pair of sub-adult eagles and an adult eagle occasionally makes an appearance. Other bird species that have visited the platform include, Starlings, a Raven and a Red-tailed hawk.
February 29th, 2024: adult eagle perched on tower
March 1st, 2024; Starlings
March 3, 2024; Raven
March 6th, 2024; subadult eagle
March 7th, 2024: Red-tailed hawk
March 10, 2024; subadult eagle
February 20th, 2024
This gorgeous immature eagle was perched at the Three Bridges eagle cam for 30 minutes today. It's brown and white plumage blends in with the background of tree trunks and snow. If you look closely you can see that the bill is turning from brown to yellow. As eagles mature their bill turns from all brown to a bright yellow. This eagle is about 2.5-3 years of age and is getting white feathers on the head. At five years of age eagles are fully mature and will have a white head and tail.
February 20th, 2024
January 29th, 2024
The 27th was another busy day at the nest platform. In the morning an immature eagle visited the nest and then both adult eagles flew in and defended their territory. The pair mated and were seen at the nest again later in the day moving sticks around. Even if they don't use the nest platform they are defending the platform as part of their territory.
January 27th, 2024, immature eagle
January 27th, 2024; adults go after immature
January 27th, 2024; adults perched
January 27th, 2024; adult perched behind pole
January 25th, 2024
Today was a busy day at the nest platform. Early this morning an Eastern Phoebe made an appearance. Thanks to eagle project volunteer Dan Kroon for identifying this bird. Dan states, "This is unusual for this time of year as most Phoebes are wintering south of here; there is only 1 report on eBird of a Phoebe in the county in January this year."
Later in the morning two immature eagles spent some time on the nest platform. Then this evening the adult pair of eagles perched together on the platform.
January 25, 2024, Eastern Phoebe
January 25, 2024
January 25th, 2024
January 6th, 2023
Eagles have a made a few appearances over the past weeks. Adults, sub-adult and a kestrel.
December 23, 2023; warning call to Redtailed hawk
December 29th, 2023
December 22nd, 2023
On December 20th a pair of eagles were seen mating on the platform and then perched. They also defended the platform against a red-tailed hawk. Time will tell if this is the same pair that nested in a tree last season or a different pair.
December 20th; pair mating
December 20th, 2023
The cam went live on December 1st, 2023
Two adult eagles perched at the nest box in the morning and an American Kestrel stopped by later in the day.
December 1st, 2023
December 1st, 2023; American Kestrel
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
- 2021-2023 Nesting Season Archives
Contact us:
Ben Wurst, Senior Wildlife Biologist: Email
Larissa Smith, Wildlife Biologist: Email
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