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Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - Bald Eagle Cam

In 2012 the American Eagle Foundation made history for them by giving us 4 HD cams on the nest with sound!! What a HUGE difference that made! We went from having to watching this nest like this----

s'cap by JudyB

to being able to see the nest and Indy this way!!---

s'cap by MaryF



AEF website cam page link to the cam - http://www.eagles.org/programs/aef-nest-cam.php

UStream page with chat link to the cam- http://www.ustream.tv/americaneaglefoundation

This cam currently features two non-releasable eagles, Independence (F) and Franklin (M). They sound as if they were made for each other - both are originally from Alaska - and both are non-releasable because of wing injuries. Independence came to the AEF facility in 1994, and Franklin arrived in 1995; they became a pair in 2000 and laid their first eggs in 2002. You can read more about them here. In 2011, their first year on cam, they laid three eggs, all of which hatched and the three eaglets (named Halo, Endeavor and Atlantis) were successfully released from a hacking tower; the first egg was moved to an incubator shortly after it was laid, due to a tornado warning, and returned to the nest several weeks later; perhaps because of the more consistent artificial incubation, it hatched 6 days before the second egg and a whole week before #3; fortunately there was plenty of food, and all three chicks thrived.

Based on past experience, look for eggs in late March, chicks in late April or early May, transfer to the hacking tower in early to mid June, and release/fledging in mid-July to early August. The chicks are removed from the parents at about 5 or 6 weeks of age when they are able to feed themselves but not yet tall enough to see the people visiting the area where they are raised and transfered to a nearby artificial nest in a hack tower. Eagle puppets can be used to feed them for a few days after the move if they are having trouble eating the chopped up food that's provided when they are first trandfered. The eaglets are generally released a few weeks later as part of the American Eagle Foundation's captive release program.

2013 Season----

•Cam On: Late February

•Eggs Laid: First egg - March 23 at 7:55 PM EDT ---- Second egg - March 26 at 8:46PM

•Hatched: First hatch - May 2 at 3:51PM ---- Second hatch - May 2 at 10:48PM

•Moved to Hacking Tower: - June 15, 2013

•Named/Pre-Release Checkup: - Destiny (female) and Thunderbird (male)

•Released: - August 2, 2013

Here is a good picture from the home page showing the orientation of the nest. It is off the ground but not very high taking in to account the wing problems of both adults. The height allows them to come and go easily. The nest is man-made but the eagles add their own sticks to it. It is located in a special aviary for bald eagles at the Dollywood Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.



Many thanks to the American Eagle Foundation and Dollywood for bringing us this wonderful cam!!

Here is the link to the 2011--2012 thread for this cam----forum/viewtopic.php?topic=271267#271267

Here are a few s'caps of our beautiful "triplets" from the 2012 season


May 7, 2012 - 2 eggs hatched out in the early morning hours. 1st hatch was at 12:06a.m. EDT May 7; 2nd hatch was at 1:40 a.m. EDT May 7. On May 8, 2012, at 4:57 a.m., E-3 hatched out, joining E-1 and E-2 in the nest. It's very unusual for three chicks to hatch so close together--in a little more than 24 hours!! Indy had very good timing! In this image, the "egg tooth" on each eaglet is clearly visible. This is what the eaglet uses when breaking out of the shell, and it will disappear shortly after hatching.



Here they are about one month old--look at those crops!! Frank LOVES to feed his babies!



The last day in the nest--about six weeks old. They moved to the hack tower later that day.

Some really wonderful information --a good read-- from the AEF about Franklin (Frank) and Independence (Indy)


http://www.eagles.org/about/Our-Special ... ndence.php

Independance on October 3rd----

Sitting around enjoying a nice afternoon at Dollywood



She spotted something--maybe Franklin flying around



Looking right at us--what a beauty!!

I have been watching the cam off and on all day. The eagle pair has not moved from the edge of the nest at all. Chatters tell me that Frank and Indy were there all morning too. It sure gave me a chance to get some pretty good s'caps of them!!

A great portrait of our gorgeous pair. Indy on the left and Frank on the right.



A nice clos-up shot of the front edge of Indy's damaged wing.



It looks like Indy has a wet head and a feather stuck in here nere.

I love the dappled coloring at the top of Frank's tail feathers!



Hello Indy! Aren't you a pretty girl?!



Not sure if Indy is yawning or moving food.

Frank is calling in answer to another eagle in the aviary.



Indy is itchy and trying to remove the feather--it worked.



Sweet Indy and her guy.

Just being cute!



This time she is trying to get several fuzzy feathers off her beak and not having much luck.



Frank really squawking at another eagle who got to close to "his" nest.