Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018-24

This area is for recording observations and photos of eagle cams in North America

Moderator: N Amer Eagle Cam TA's

Post Reply
User avatar
MaryF
Forum Assistant
Posts: 4170
Joined: Feb 26, 2018

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018-24

Post by MaryF » Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:08 pm

HWF welcomes you to the first and only streaming cam from the state of Texas!! This cam is located in Seagoville, Texas in the John Bunker Sands Wetlands just East of the Dallas area. The nest is located in an unusual place---a huge former electrical power tower!!

This will be the sixth year for this cam. For two years the cam lost transmission early in the season but we had much better the year after and then the deadly lost cam struck us again last season. Hopefully we will have great transmission by the cam for season six!! They say they are working on a new system :thumlft:


This year's coverage of this cam (2019/2020) will start at the following link!

viewtopic.php?p=243649#p243649

*******************************************************************************************************************
The coverage of the John Bunker Sands Wetlands cam for 2020/21 will begin here---

viewtopic.php?p=376068#p376068

*******************************************************************************************************************

Coverage for the 2021-2022 season of the John Bunker Sands Wetlands eagle cam will begin here ---

viewtopic.php?p=501773#p501773

*******************************************************************************************************************

Coverage for the 2022-2023 season of the John Bunker Sands Wetlands eagle cam will begin here ---

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=346&p=608770#p608770

*******************************************************************************************************************

Coverage for the 2023-2024 season of the John Bunker Sands Wetlands eagle cam will begin here ---

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=346&p=713769#p696718




This cam is in the Central Time Zone

TX   nest location  4-21-15.jpg
The nest location--on the tower!


LINK TO THE NEW CAM ~~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCJV5Ag5qSE

Link to the Wetlands FB page -- https://www.facebook.com/John-Bunker-Sa ... 246783185/

OR --- https://www.facebook.com/pg/John-Bunker ... 185/posts/


This pair of eagles began nesting at the Wetland in 2011. They now nest in a non functioning transmission tower sitting up high on a ridge. It gives the eagle’s nest a commanding view of the wetlands and surrounding terrain. A web cam has been installed above the nest to facilitate providing a live feed of the eagles and their nest over the internet. The new cam has many capabilities including zooming, panning, and night vision. It is a solar powered cam so on overcast days the camera’s operation may be affected and it may be temporarily offline. If there is no feed when you visit, try again a little later. You will have better luck on sunny days. :sunny:

The American Bald Eagle, a once endangered species, has found the East Fork Wetland a suitable and inviting habitat for the past several years. In 2011/2012 a pair of Eagles began building a nest in the outstretched arm of a transmission line tower overlooking the southwestern portion of the wetland. We waited with anticipation for the possibility of eaglets, (young eagles) but they never appeared. Fast forward to winter of 2012/2013 and the pair of Eagles returned, reinforced the nest and were successful in hatching and rearing two Eaglets.

Studies in Texas have shown that eagles commonly eat coots, catfish, rough fish, and soft-shell turtles. In Texas, Bald Eagles nest from October to July. Peak egg-laying occurs in December, with hatching primarily in January. When they are on their own, young Bald Eagles migrate northward out of Texas, returning by September or October.

**********************************************************************************
TX   beaky stuff   12-17-14.jpg
~~ the resident pair enjoying some time together


Stats for 2018/19 ~~~

* Eagles returned -- October 3rd and 6th, 2018

* Eggs laid -- Egg#1: December 16, 2018 @ 5:54pm ~~ Egg #2: was laid before 5 p.m. December 19th, 2018.

* Eggs hatched -- possibly January 23 and 25th

* "Branched" --

* Fledged -- both JB11 and JB12 fledged around April 18th or so when they were about 85 days old.

* Last seen --

************************************************************

Beauty and tranquility are the theme at the Wetlands. A place to soak in the scenery and wildlife. But not all of the life is 'wild', some is domesticated. Surrounding the Wetlands is a working cattle ranch. These cattle and horses provide a nice backdrop to the marsh reeds and trees surrounding the water.
TX   JBS cattle.jpg




LINK TO LAST SEASON'S THREAD--- viewtopic.php?p=1820#p1820
Member since July, 2006

User avatar
MaryF
Forum Assistant
Posts: 4170
Joined: Feb 26, 2018

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by MaryF » Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:09 pm

TX   wetland parents   4-5-16.jpg
Mom (L) and Dad (R)--the Wetlands pair on the tower




.A few facts about bald eagles in Texas --


In Texas, Bald Eagles nest from October to July. Nests are constructed primarily by the female, with the male assisting.

Peak egg-laying occurs in December, with hatching primarily in January. The female lays a clutch of 1 to 3 eggs, but the usual clutch is 2 eggs. Incubation begins when the first egg is laid and usually lasts 34 to 36 days.

The young generally fledge (fly from the nest) in 11 to 12 weeks, but the adults continue to feed them for another 4 to 6 weeks while they learn to hunt.

When they are on their own, young Bald Eagles migrate northward out of Texas, returning by September or October.

Since 1981, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has conducted extensive aerial surveys to monitor Bald Eagle nesting activity. The 2003 survey identified 117 active nests which fledged at least 144 young. This compares with only 7 known nest sites in 1971.

*****************************************************************
TX   looking right   4-16-16.jpg
-- Noticeable size difference between Dad (L) and Mom (R)


A little nest history ~~


Fall 2013: The Nest Must Move -- the Wetlands and Oncor had big plans for this nest!! ---(This WAS the plan!) The story of the relocation of the nest from a live tower to one donates by the power company.

Ever since the construction of the East Fork Wetland in 2009, Bald Eagles have found this habitat a great
location to forage and survive. This past year we had two juvenile Bald Eagles successfully raised in a
prominent nest south of the Wetland on an active electric transmission line tower. This tower is owned
and operated by Oncor Electric Delivery and supplies over 325,000 volts of electricity to south Dallas.
The presence of the nest on the electric tower could possibly pose a threat to the health and safety of
the returning Eagles as well as delaying or impeding the supply of electricity to over a quarter of a
million people. For these reasons, we decided it was in the best interest of the Bald Eagles to relocate
the existing Bald Eagle Nest to a new tower on the Wetland property.


Oncor Electric Company has worked hand in hand with the US Fish & Wildlife Service to secure a
relocation permit in order to undertake this amazing endeavor. The entire fabrication, construction,
and instillation of the new Eagle Nest Tower is being sponsored by a solid partnership with Oncor
Electric Delivery and Falcon Steel Company. During the next few weeks in August, Falcon Steel
Company, located in Kaufman, Texas, will begin the construction of the new tower located about 1200
feet from the original nest site. This will bring the tower about 1 mile away from the Wetland Center
and slightly closer for ground observation. Falcon Steel will also install a high definition camera, solar
panels, and a wifi network to help us in future monitoring and observation of the returning eagles. After
the tower is erected by early September, Oncor Electric Delivery will begin the exciting stage of
relocating the eagle nest to the new structure. Oncor plans to remove the existing arm of the transmission line tower with the eagle nest intact, carefully place it on a flat bed truck and drive it to thenew location. Once the nest is at the new location, we will fully inspect it making sure the nest is sturdy
and intact. After the inspection, Oncor will slowly lift the nest arm by crane, almost 100 feet into the air,
and reattach the nest arm to the new tower structure. The Wetland Center is very appreciative to our partners in this huge undertaking! We thank you beyond words for your in-kind financial commitment
and support to this wildlife project.

The entire process of relocation of the eagle nest should be complete by October 15, 2013 and ready for
the hopeful return of the Bald Eagles to the Wetland this fall. There is a 50% chance that the same pair
of eagles will return this year to occupy the existing nest on the new tower. Once this process is
complete, Oncor will release the maintenance, operation and monitoring of the Eagle Nest Tower to the
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center. The continued success of this storybook conservation effort will be
successful from the continued support of our donor, members, family and friends. Please stay tuned for
the next chapter of the Bald Eagle Nest Tower

As we all well know--the eagles do things on their time!!! ---AND they did!


Winter 2013: Plan A, Plan B…Plan Eagle!


Well there is plan A, plan B and now we have plan Eagle… nature always has a time and season of its
own. The adult American Bald Eagles return to the existing nest in mid-September 2013, one month
earlier that we expected. Apparently they did not get the memo that we were in the process of
relocating their nest to a safer location. Working with our partners, Oncor and Falcon Steel, we selected
a solid design for the new nest tower and an attractive location within 1200 feet of the original nest.
The surveyors sighted the footings for the new tower one week before the Eagles returned. My first day
back from summer vacation on September 15th, I sighted the male on top of the existing tower and the
female followed shortly afterwards. In light of their return, Oncor erected bird deterrents on adjacent
towers and trimmed the hanging branches under the nest to avoid contact with the live electric lines


To encourage another successful year of eaglets, we decided to postpone any future preparations to relocate the nest until they clear the tower in the spring of 2014. Several visitors and student groups observed the Eagles building up the nest walls a little bit higher and lots of feeding and courtship activity around the nest sight. In the meantime, the Wetland Center and Falcon Steel are working with Oncor’s staff of biologist to monitor the Eagles and ensure a safe relocation effort.

TX   wingersizing   5-2-15.jpg
-- The 2015 solo eaglet
Member since July, 2006

User avatar
MaryF
Forum Assistant
Posts: 4170
Joined: Feb 26, 2018

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by MaryF » Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:09 pm

This picture shows the relationship between the old nest tower and the new non-functioning one. They are about 1200 feet apart.
TX   old and new tower.jpg
~~ The old and new nest towers


More nest history (the story of the tower move) continued ~~

In July of 2014, after the eagle couple had their eaglets and flew away for the off-season, Oncor painstakingly removed, wrapped up, and relocated their 200-plus pound nest to a new utility pole nearby; one that's not connected to any electric wires.

It took a big donation from Falcon Steel and the approval of federal and state regulators, but the enormous effort that cost more than $100,000 was no guarantee. It would still take a wing and a prayer to bring the birds back.

The following video highlights the cumulative efforts of Oncor biologists and field employees, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the landowner near the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Seagoville, TX, to safely and securely relocate a massive nest left behind by a pair of bald eagles and their offspring.

After monitoring the nest perched atop a 345kv transmission tower for more than two years, and following National Bald Eagle management guidelines, the tower cross arm that housed the nest was carefully positioned on a new structure less than a mile away in July. This was to ensure the safety and well-being of the eagles and reliable service to the tens of thousands of customers served by the high voltage line. The new structure was donated by Falcon Steel specifically for the eagle nest.

The eagles now have a safe structure away from any electricity and have the ability to nest there for life. Check out the video for an inside look at what the effort was all about.

*******************************************
TX   new tower and cam.jpg
~~ New tower showing the nest and the cam

A wonderful video showing the process of relocating this bald eagle's nest--AMAZING!! --

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obt4A5pQjfU#t=27


The concern at the time was, that there was about a 50-50 chance they would take to the new site. Much to the delight of all those involved with the project, the eagles returned in October. There was a problem: Instead of adopting their new tower, they gravitated right back to their original functioning tower. Then it just happened--they changed their minds. The majestic birds made the short flight to their old nest on the new tower where they have nested since then!

Another story about these eagles with a video --- https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Seago ... 42651.html

TX   wetland eaglets   4-5-16.jpg
-- the 2016 Wetland eaglets
Member since July, 2006

User avatar
MaryF
Forum Assistant
Posts: 4170
Joined: Feb 26, 2018

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by MaryF » Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:09 pm

TX   close to Dallas.jpg
TX close to Dallas.jpg (54.99 KiB) Viewed 6555 times
-- Dallas Texas in the background


.Some great information about the John Bunker Sands Wetland where this bald eagle nest is located. ~~

http://www.wetlandcenter.com/wetlandcen ... ility.html

TX   overview.jpg
-- An overview of the Wetlands area


A video telling some of the history of the JBS Wetlands with gorgeous scenery---

https://vimeo.com/95417834?cjevent=92a5 ... 2c0a1c0e13

******************************************************************
TX   2017 eaglets.jpg
-- the 2017 eaglets
Member since July, 2006

User avatar
MaryF
Forum Assistant
Posts: 4170
Joined: Feb 26, 2018

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by MaryF » Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:10 pm

Two more pictures of the 2017 eaglets

TX   2017 eaglets 2.jpg
-- 2017 eagles getting their feathers

TX   2017 fledgling.jpg
-- Beautiful 2017 fledgling

************************************************************

TX   2018 chick.jpg
-- The 2018 solo chick :wub:
Member since July, 2006

User avatar
MaryF
Forum Assistant
Posts: 4170
Joined: Feb 26, 2018

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by MaryF » Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:10 pm

We had a lot of cam problems last season (2018) again that could not be fixed because the eagles were on the tower. Here is a nice photo from JBS showing 10 practicing hard before it's successful fledge on or about June 7th.
TX   practicing  2018.jpg
-- JBS 10 getting good air time
Member since July, 2006

User avatar
Ferenz
Topic Assistant
Posts: 3696
Joined: Mar 21, 2018
Location: Berlin, Germany

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by Ferenz » Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:38 am

12 Oct. 2018 first sightings for the 2018/2019 season.

Image

Image
https://www.facebook.com/16567024678318 ... =3&theater
Image

User avatar
Ferenz
Topic Assistant
Posts: 3696
Joined: Mar 21, 2018
Location: Berlin, Germany

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by Ferenz » Wed Oct 24, 2018 6:24 am

Good morning

Image

Image
Image

User avatar
TXmade
Posts: 1
Joined: Apr 10, 2018

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by TXmade » Thu Nov 01, 2018 3:27 pm

Thursday, November 1, 2018
:woohoo: :hug: so glad that I decided to check the camera today it was up and both eagles home.

5:27pm I believe mom is in the middle.
Attachments
1541110539219.jpg
Last edited by TXmade on Thu Nov 01, 2018 3:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
{~~♡ I used to say I'd be rich one day, one day I realised I already am! ♡~~}

User avatar
KcShylo
Posts: 350
Joined: Feb 28, 2018

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by KcShylo » Thu Nov 01, 2018 3:39 pm

I too am glad the camera is working so far. Both were on the nest at 5:39 pm, but before I could get my picture capture working right, they both left. FYI: The nest clock is off 13 minutes.
11-01-2018 Nest Capture.JPG
:D :bye 1:

Pic Courtsey John Bunker Sands

User avatar
KcShylo
Posts: 350
Joined: Feb 28, 2018

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by KcShylo » Sat Nov 03, 2018 8:14 am

One on the nest this morning. A little puzzled as to who as tail not frayed enough to be Mom.
Screenshot_20181103-095547_Samsung Internet.jpg
:bye 1:

User avatar
KcShylo
Posts: 350
Joined: Feb 28, 2018

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by KcShylo » Thu Nov 22, 2018 11:01 am

FYI: no working camera for a long time. Saw a post that said up by November, but nothing. If anyone knows anything, please post. I do not do Facebook so access is limited.

User avatar
Ferenz
Topic Assistant
Posts: 3696
Joined: Mar 21, 2018
Location: Berlin, Germany

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by Ferenz » Thu Dec 06, 2018 4:53 am

Good morning KcShylo & others,

before sunrise: CAM is coming back now...
:yes:

Image
from fb > https://www.facebook.com/John-Bunker-Sa ... 246783185/

Image
Image

User avatar
Ferenz
Topic Assistant
Posts: 3696
Joined: Mar 21, 2018
Location: Berlin, Germany

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by Ferenz » Thu Dec 06, 2018 10:46 am

Image
Image

User avatar
KcShylo
Posts: 350
Joined: Feb 28, 2018

Re: Seagoville, TX -- 2018 -19

Post by KcShylo » Sun Dec 09, 2018 10:02 am

Both on nest today. Come and go for Dad. Mom trying out bowl for quite a while, but it still
appears pretty shallow.
11:50 am camera time (still off 15 minutes)
12-09-2018 M&D.JPG
12-09-2018 Mom alone.JPG
12-09-2018 Mom Dirty head - tail improved.JPG

Post Reply

Return to “Other North American Eagle Cams”