Live-streamed video of Georgia’s best-known bald eagles can now be seen on the website of the Georgia DNR.
In a partnership with Berry College, the DNR Wildlife Resources Division is streaming video provided by the northwest Georgia college of two bald eagles nesting near Berry’s athletic and recreation center.
The public can follow the pair 24/7 at the DNR site, as well as on Berry College’s website. Berry staff and eagle watchers also track the birds on Facebook.
DNR Nongame Conservation Section Program Manager Jim Ozier said the agency had been looking for an opportunity to live-stream an eagle nest. Berry’s cams, the only the only eagle nest cams in the state, answer that need.
“It allows people an up-close look at nest maintenance and parental behavior – activities normally seen only from afar, if at all,” Ozier said.
Once common in Georgia, bald eagles declined during the mid-20th century. There were none nesting in the state by the early 1970s.
But, populations rebounded here and elsewhere, helped by a 1972 U.S. ban on DDT use, habitat improvements through the federal Clean Water and Clean Air acts, protection under the Endangered Species Act, greater public awareness, and restoration of local populations through release programs. Although still protected by federal and state law, eagles were taken off the federal list as a threatened species in 2007.
During the 2013 nesting season, DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section documented 171 occupied nesting territories in Georgia. Of these, 129 were successful, fledging 193 eaglets. Chatham County had the highest count, with 26 nests.
For comparison, there were 55 known nesting territories statewide in 2000, nine in 1990 and one in 1980.
This year’s eagle nest survey is currently underway.
Jeanne Mathews, assistant vice president of Public Relations and Marketing at Berry, said the school “very much appreciates the assistance of Sony, Georgia Power and Fluid Mesh Networks for helping us make this opportunity possible.”
“We hope our viewers will enjoy this unique and exciting chance to watch bald eagles 24 hours a day.”
Posted by Mary Landers