ST PAUL, Minn. — Network reality shows frequently shift locations and change casts to keep viewers on the hook.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may not have the same motivations, but the agency is bringing back its hugely popular Eagle Cam with a new pair of raptors in a new setting.
DNR wildlife specialists say the new cam, which goes live this Thursday, Nov. 21, both on the agency's website and YouTube page, will focus on the nesting behavior of a breeding pair of bald eagles that have successfully and consistently nested in the area for at least four years, rearing several broods of eaglets.
The original Eagle Cam - whose nest was destroyed when it plunged to the ground under the weight of heavy snow in April of 2023 - will remain in operation so viewers can keep an eye on the territory of the beloved bald eagle couple they followed for years. That camera will go on line Thursday as well.
DNR program officials could not reinstall Eagle Cam in the new nest of the original pair as it is inaccessible to electric service.
“While the DNR EagleCam brings Minnesota wildlife into homes and schools in an exciting and educational way, the Nongame Wildlife Program has helped restore and support populations of eagles, loons and many other species,” said DNR Ecological and Water Resources Division Director Katie Smith. “This vital work is supported by donations on our webpage, on state tax forms, and through bequests and other gifts.”
Also on the DNR's Eagle Cam webpage will be a video showing how the new camera was installed, the work of the DNR's Nongame Wildlife Fund and how you can contribute.
The DNR EagleCam goes live each November so viewers can see the eagle pair courting and upgrading their nest. They bring in new nesting material and large sticks each year as a bonding ritual.
Activity at the nest increases during the winter and by mid-February there are usually two or three eggs for the adults to incubate, a process that takes about 35 days. Once the chicks hatch, the DNR will zoom the camera in to more closely follow the delicate process of raising bald eagle chicks.