Bald Eagle Cam by Spring Lake Township
Spring Lake Township’s Eagle Camera is officially up and running on YouTube, offering you a chance to watch a pair of local eagles in real time as they nest, soar, and raise their young! One of the eagles was sitting on the branch looking the other way right before I shared this so be sure to tune in!
If you’d like to tune in on the discussion & see some dynamite closeups by Suzi Hackney Mccabe, head over to Visit Grand Haven.
Waiting for the sunrise… by Kevin Povenz
Bridge Magazine recently reported that bird flu is killing Bald eagles in Michigan:
…at least 18 eagles in Michigan that have lost their lives to bird flu so far this year, according to testing data provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Disease Laboratory. Results from 16 more suspected cases are pending. If they come back positive, that could bring the total to 34.
In the middle of the last century, the nation’s eagle population was devastated by the introduction of the insecticide dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane or DDT. It wreaked havoc on eagles which, as predators, ingested the chemical compound in high concentrations. But then, starting in 1972, a series of steps were taken to restore the eagle population. DDT was banned, bald eagles became federally protected, and some eagles were bred in captivity before being released into the wild. In Michigan, annual aerial surveys showed breeding pairs rose from 52 in 1961 to about 835 in 2017.
…“They’re a population that, if there’s going to be some sort of impact, they’re going to be really slow to rebound,” said Julie Melotti, the pathologist for the Wildlife Disease Lab. Unlike rabbits or mice that reproduce rapidly, bald eagles take five years to mature and then lay two to three eggs a year.
Kevin took this last month at Grand Ravines park. He’s been sharing awesome pics of eagles with us for years & says they like to sit in this tree and wait for the sunrise. See a bunch more in his Birds of Prey gallery on Flickr!
Lots more bald Eagles on Michigan in Pictures!
Amongst the Trees by Kevin Povenz
This year the Fourth of July falls on a Thursday, meaning many of us will get a 4-day weekend. I hope you all get a chance to enjoy the holiday!!
Kevin shared this super cool bald eagle shot taken last year in the Ravines of Grand Ledge. whoops it’s the Ravines of Ottawa County!! Check out his massive Birds of Prey gallery on Flickr for more!
Sunset Eagle by Charlie Schwartz
I think this is the best bald eagle photo I’ve ever seen.
See more in Charlie’s Birds album on Flickr!
Bald Eagle with Cargo, photo by Jeff Dehmel
Jeff took this shot last weekend in Milford’s Kensington Metropark.
If you’re looking for an alternative to Saturday morning cartoons for kids & adults alike, the CarbonTV Eagle Cam at the Platte River Fish Hatchery in Benzie County has returned for 2017. While it’s a lot of sitting on eggs right now, before too long there will be all kinds of fun as the eaglets hatch and grow!
View the photo background bigilicious and see more in Jeff’s Kensington Metropark 4.1.17 slideshow.
More bald eagles on Michigan in Pictures.
Michigan Eagle Cam, photo via Carbon TV
Carbon and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are collaborating on a cool webcam of a nesting pair of bald eagles in Benzie County. mLive explains:
Cameras are pointed at a pair of nesting bald eagles in residence at the Platte River State Fish Hatchery. The large nest is 100 feet above the ground, along the Platte River in Benzie County.
Carbon Media Group alerted viewers earlier this week that incubation time is almost up, and that small holes called “pips” that parents make in the shells can be seen on two of the eggs.
“This pair of eagles have been regular visitors to this nest for the past three years,” Ed Eisch, DNR fish production manager, has said.
Click to view the live camera – which makes a really soothing background soundtrack – and also to check out video clips including an eagle adjusting the eggs from the photo above and visits by owls and pine martens!
Michigan in Pictures 