Nesting eagles captivate viewers in PA and beyond
Nesting eagles captivate viewers in PA and beyond
By Tyler Frantz
As another trout season opener draws near, it is encouraging to know that many youth anglers will be joining the ranks of Pennsylvania fishermen this year. In passing down our heritage and knowledge of the outdoors to a bright-eyed youngster, we can simultaneously preserve the future of our beloved pastimes.
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| Mature bald eagle at Sweet Arrow Lake, Pine Grove |
But it won’t only be rod toting, rubber boot wearing, and ceaselessly chattering kids joining the fishing elite across Pennsylvania waterways this spring. There will be a different type of fishermen- or should I say fisherbirds- making their debut arrivals as well.
Thanks to a joint project headed by the PA Game Commission, HDOnTap and Comcast Business, online viewers have been granted a digital front row seat to the fascinating nesting activity of two York County bald eagles.
Accessible via the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), viewers can click on the bald eagle icon to observe a live-feed HD video of the eagles caring for their little nest occupants, two baby eaglets, which hatched earlier this week.
According to a recent release from the PGC, “The bald eagle cam has already attracted nearly 643,000 viewers, many of whom have faithfully followed the daily happenings at the nest near Codorus State Park in Hanover, PA.”
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| Adult on Hanover nest (Nest cam photo courtesy of PGC) |
Viewers from more than 140 countries have accessed the live stream to watch the pair tending to their nest, drawing major attention to intimate animal behaviors that are seldom witnessed by spectators in the wild.
“After cozying up their nest, the eagle couple was captured beak-to-beak on video, in what resembled their sharing a kiss,” the release stated. “Then on Valentine’s Day, the first egg was laid. A second egg followed on Feb. 17.”
“Over the next few weeks, the birds became a nationwide sensation – particularly during a snowstorm when one of the adults allowed itself to be buried in falling snow so that the eggs could remain warm and dry.”
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| Hanover nesting pair (Nest cam photo courtesy of PGC) |
The Hanover pair represents one of more than 270 confirmed nesting sites across the state, marking an unbelievable comeback of our national symbol in Pennsylvania, especially considering there was an alarming total of just three known sites in 1983.
In fact, the birds are doing so well that the PGC Board of Commissioners voted last year to remove bald eagles from the state’s list of threatened species and classify them as a recovered/protected species. This is a result of the bald-eagle management plan that called for upgrading the status when each of four criteria measuring the health of the state’s population had been met for a five-year period.
“Removing bald eagles from the state threatened species list neither hinders eagle populations in Pennsylvania nor knocks off course the species’ comeback here,” said Game Commission endangered-bird biologist Patti Barber.
“The bird continues to be protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Lacey Act. Under the Eagle Act, those who harm or disturb eagles are subject to a civil penalty of up to one year in jail or a $5,000 fine for their first offense, and criminal convictions can result in fines as high as $250,000.”
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| Adult feeds Hanover eaglets (Nest cam photo courtesy of PGC) |
Additionally, state penalties for disturbing protected wildlife include fines of up to $1,500, granting even further protection to eagles across the state. For those looking to view a nesting site in person, the Commission advises keeping at least 1,000 feet from the nest and using optics to observe from a distance.
Try to avoid excessive noise, sudden movements or other infringements that could potentially put the birds under unnecessary stress, risking harm to the energy-zapped adults or vulnerable fledglings. A complete list of general guidelines for eagle viewing etiquette is available on the PGC website.
The birds have come a long way since the Game Commission first began efforts to restore them to Pennsylvania more than 30 years ago. In 1983, the PGC launched a seven-year restoration program, which included the import of eagles from Saskatchewan, Canada to bolster the dwindling population of the three nesting pairs that remained in northwest PA near the Ohio border.
An interesting 22-minute film celebrating the bald eagle’s success is available on the same webpage as the live stream eagle cam. It gives a detailed look at the history of the bald eagle’s remarkable comeback and will certainly enlighten anyone seeking additional information.
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| Juvenile bald eagle at Sweet Arrow Lake, Pine Grove |
A book titled, “Inside a Bald Eagle’s Nest” by Teena Ruark Gorrow and Craig A. Koppie is also available for purchase through the PGC’s online Outdoor Shop. At a cost of $24.53, the book offers a photographic journey through the Bald Eagle nesting season, capturing rare habitat images with comprehensive descriptions and suggesting great tips for observing eagles in their natural environment.
Those lucky enough to spot a bald eagle while fishing a Pennsylvania waterway this spring should realize this special encounter was made possible by people working together for decades to bring back one of the state’s most amazing species from the brink of extirpation.
Meanwhile, those unable to witness an eagle in the wild can always tune in with the rest of the world to enjoy the wonders of nature unfolding by the minute on their electronic devices, courtesy of the PGC’s live eagle nest cam.
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