Spring has sprung, the flowers are blooming, and birds are nesting!
Nest cameras are a fantastic way to monitor nesting birds without disturbing them, which is especially important for birds that are sensitive to disturbance, like raptors. It can also be useful for monitoring nests that are really inaccessible, like a peregrine falcon nest high up on a ledge. Using footage from a nest cam, you can note things like when the eggs are laid, when the young hatch and then fledge, and what sorts of materials are used to build the nest.
Nest cams are also a wonderful way to provide a larger audience with the ability to see birds up close and learn about how they nest and raise young. Sometimes nest cams provide teachable moments about conservation, such as how plastic bags and other trash can negatively impact wildlife. And occasionally, viewers are treated to a lighthearted moment, such as when this young male osprey tried to use a live crab as nesting material.
Bald eagle chicks peer out from their nest. Photo courtesy of US Fish & Wildlife Service
Osprey and bald eagles are a particularly popular bird for nest cameras. They are large, charismatic birds that attract a lot of attention, but really don’t like being disturbed while they’re nesting. And let’s face it, their chicks are so fuzzy, awkward, and funny-looking that they’re just plain adorable.
Do you have a nest camera installed at your site? Leave a link to the video feed in the comments so we can check it out!
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