WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--During the spring of 2016, the DC Eagle Cam took the world by storm, generating more than 63 million views from more than 100 countries during a five-month period. Nature and animal enthusiasts intently watched this patriotic eagle pair as they raised their second and third eaglets in their Tulip Poplar nest in the U.S. National Arboretum. These eaglets initially were known as DC2 & DC3, later dubbed Freedom and Liberty by the public.
In 2017, eaglets DC4 & DC5 were hatched. This pair was later named Honor and Glory. Another high point for 2017 was that the American Eagle Foundation (AEF) installed sound to the nest cam experience.
In 2015, before the DC Eagle Cam project came to be, the pair raised one eaglet (DC1).
Since the nonprofit AEF and USDA re-launched the DC Eagle Cam to the general public on New Year’s Eve, viewers have been patiently watching and waiting for the pair’s next set of eggs and eaglets.
Those who were watching the cams on March 25, 2018 around 4:30 p.m. EDT were lucky enough to see The First Lady lay her first egg of the 2018 nesting season. For all of those who missed it, they can watch the video HERE.
Viewers should make sure to watch the cams over the next several days to catch the laying of the second egg, if The First Lady produces another (like she did last year).
Eagle pairs typically produce 1-3 eggs annually (usually laid and hatched a few days apart), but because this pair raised one eaglet during their first nesting season, two eaglets their second season, and two eaglets their third season, there’s no telling what to expect this time around, especially since the nest is larger.
Al Cecere, President of the AEF states, “As long as this egg is viable, in about 35 days we will get to watch a gray fuzzy eaglet emerge from its shell. Over the next several days, we’ll find out if this eaglet, which will be called DC6, will have any siblings as well.”
For all the viewers who watched the cams last year, what happens after the egg-laying is no surprise. From this point on, the eagle pair will delicately incubate and relentlessly protect their egg(s) from rain, snow, hail, thunderstorms, and predators (like raccoons). They also will take turns with the incubation duties throughout the day to let each other take breaks and hunt or fish for food.
“It’s always endearing and exciting to watch the behaviors of an eagle pair,” says Cecere. “Sometimes they almost appear to banter about who gets to watch over the eggs or chicks next. Of course, we have no clue what they’re saying to each other, but we can certainly have fun imagining!”
ABOUT THE DC EAGLE CAM PROJECT
In 2015, the American Eagle Foundation (AEF) staff traveled to D.C. to install state-of-the-art cameras, infrared lighting, and other related equipment in-and-around the nest tree with the help of experienced technicians and tree climbers, as well as AEF staff and volunteers. The USDA’s U.S. National Arboretum ran a half-mile of fiber optic cable to the cameras’ ground control station, which connects the cameras to the Internet. The entire system is powered by large mobile solar panels (containing several deep cycle batteries), which was designed and built by students and staff from Alfred State College, SUNY College of Technology and was partially funded by the Department of Energy and Environment. USNA has implemented a backup generator that will kick-on if prolonged inclement weather causes the solar array to provide insufficient power to the system. In 2016, APEX Electric Inc. (Kenmore, Washington) traveled to D.C. to assist the AEF in successfully installing audio equipment in and around the tree. The AEF uses Piksel to stream the video images to viewers around the world, and AEF volunteers are trained and coordinated to pan, tilt and zoom the two video cams, as well as educate the public via LIVE chats while viewers (including adults of all ages and school children) watch and listen to the eagles via the video cams and microphones over the Internet.
