Keep tabs on the progress of eagle eggs thanks to two Xcel Energy Eagle Cams.
It's that time of year when animal babies of all shapes and sizes are making their way into the world. Some feathered friends to the north are have laid several eggs and are settled into the incubating process. The coolest part? You get to watch!
"We have one eagle nest equipped with two video cameras, so you can watch the American bald eagles build their nest, lay and incubate their eggs, and raise their young in late January through July," says Xcel Energy who are managing the cameras.
The eagles are located at the Fort St. Vrain Station in Platteville, and pairs have been faithfully coming back to the same spot to lay, hatch, and raise their brood for years. According to Xcel, the pair's nest, or aerie, is six-foot wide by five-foot deep and is high up in a cottonwood tree. The cameras were installed in 2003 to catch the natural miracle, but the eagles had been settling there long before that. To date, 38 eaglets have hatched at this location.
This year's pair is in the incubating phase of the process, with the female laying eggs on February 13, February 17, and February 20.
The expectant parents took a break, giving us a full view of the three eggs in the aerie. Courtesy of Xcel Energy.
You can learn more about the history of the eagles at this nest and watch them live as their journey unfolds at the RaptorResource.org website. You can also watch them on the Xcel Energy Eagle Cams, but I've found that site is not always working. The cameras are solar powered, and when the panels are covered in snow, the cameras will go down. The best place I have found to see these birds and to read up on them is the RaptorResource.org site.
"We hope you enjoy watching the Fort St. Vrain eagles. The eagles usually lay eggs in mid-February. The eggs hatch in late March to early April, and young fledge in June," said the site.
Check out this cool video of the male of the pair delivering fish to the resident female on Valentine's Day.
This Is All for the Birds, Literally! Check Out Other Bird Cams.
The eagle pair is fascinating enough, but this is prime time for bird watching galore!
There are tons of bird cams across the state that are streaming live. RaptorResource.org is also streaming Xcel cameras at a nestbox for owls at the Fort St. Vrain Station in Platteville, though it appears to be empty at this time. There is also a kestral cam out of Brush that is live streaming. Just scroll down on the eagle cam page to keep an eye on these birds, as well as a few others from other states. The full list of available bird cams can be found here.
In addition, the Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institute has several cameras throughout the state that is capturing owls and kestrels, and several nests appear active, including a barn owl in Loveland that has been coming to a nest box on and off since February 8. Simply go to www.carriep.org and click Raptor Cameras on the top link menu to see all the cameras available. The organization also offers birding events and more.
Did you know this is migration season for eagles, and they make a stop in our great state? Check out Bald Eagles Fly High in Colorado Through March to learn more!
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