Eagle Cam Questions and Answers
For those who want to know more about the nesting behavior of Chesapeake Bay bald eagles (incubation, hatching, etc.) be sure to check out our Eagle Facts page.
The following are popular questions regarding the Eagle Cam operation at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR):
Why do these cams look different than previous Eagle Cams at Blackwater NWR?
Answer: The Friends of Blackwater began broadcasting still images from a bald eagle nest at Blackwater NWR back in 2004. Over many successful nesting seasons, we saw a total of 25 eagle eggs hatch at the cam nest, but after several failed nesting seasons, the bald eagles abandoned the nest and we stopped broadcasting. In 2019, the Friends identified a new nest and installed two streaming video/audio cameras (one Pan-Tilt-Zoom camera and one bullet camera) in the nest at the Refuge.
Is this the same eagle couple that nested in the tree last year?
Answer: We're not sure if it's the same couple, since we don't band eagles at the Refuge. Bald eagles do mate for life and are very loyal to their nest sites, so an eagle pair will usually return to their previous nest.
Do the adult eagles migrate south?
Answer: Chesapeake Bay bald eagles don't migrate like ospreys. During the winter when the rivers freeze over and the fish are harder to catch, our bald eagles have access to other food items, such as waterfowl, small animals, and even carrion, so they can stay in the area rather than migrate. Bald eagles from northern states often migrate down to Blackwater NWR during the winter because the area has so much food; this is why the Refuge holds a Mid-Winter Eagle Survey in January, when our eagle numbers are at their highest.
Is there a light shining on the eagles at night?
Answer: The Eagle Cam uses infrared technology (like the military uses) to provide "night vision," so there is no visible light shining on the eagles in the evening—it just looks that way.
What happens to the eaglets from previous seasons?
Answer: The eaglets from previous seasons take about four years to mature. In the meantime, they'll wander around the Chesapeake Bay area, exploring and improving their hunting skills. They might even strike out to visit other states before returning to Blackwater NWR in the future when they're ready to breed.
Are you tracking the eaglets from previous seasons?
Answer: We don't band or track eagles at Blackwater NWR, so no, we are not following their movements.
If eagles hang out at the Osprey Cam nest, why don't they raise their young there?
Answer: The eagles like perching at the Osprey Cam nest (after the ospreys have migrated) because it is near the river and offers a good view of their fishing grounds. But the man-made platform is very shallow and is not in a tree, so the eagles would not nest there. Also, it's very close to our Wildlife Drive, and while ospreys don't mind being relatively close to people during nesting season, the eagles prefer their privacy.
To learn more about eagle behavior, see our Eagle Watchers' Guide
(PDF, 2.4 MB), which we put together after our first cam season.
Return to the Blackwater NWR Eagle Cam or the Cam Central page.
