Page 363 - Hand rearing birds second

354 Hand-Rearing Birds

Box­21.1­ Nest­Cams
Jean Pichler
The popularity of nest cameras has played a major role in piquing interest in many avian spe-
cies, including eagles. Remote viewing cameras were originally used by scientists to document
behaviors and aid in data collection for sensitive, protected, or difficult to access species. Both
live streaming and video recorded Bald Eagle nest cams revealed new data and information
that could not be collected from ground observations alone. The educational aspects of these
nest cam observations for researchers, classroom students, citizen scientists, and nature enthu-
siasts were soon realized, and remote viewing opportunities are now available to anyone with
Internet access and a webcam for 24-hour a day nest views of an eagle family during their
most intimate moments. With advances in camera technology, throughout the breeding season
the eagle family can be observed and heard in real time engaging in courting, bonding, laying,
and hatching eggs, and rearing tiny, helpless chicks that weigh merely ounces until 10–12 weeks
later when they are as large as their parents and ready to fledge. While under observation by
a wide range of people from the comfort of their computers, the activities of these protected
birds can be documented and enjoyed by professionals and the general population alike,
resulting in greater understanding and appreciation of the eagles’ behaviors and natural
history. For some avian species, such as Bald Eagles and condors, whose populations are
recovering from near extinction, this newly acquired information is rewriting previously held
knowledge that was based on very limited populations and even more limited access to the
birds’ actual natural history surrounding nesting habits and nest successes and failures.
It follows naturally that with this manner of exposure, viewing an eagle’s home life, creates
an emotional response. The public can relate to what they observe, interpreting for themselves
the activities they witness. They develop a greater awareness not only of the birds’ life cycle
but also the interactions between adults, and adults and chicks. People are beginning to con-
sider questions such as whether eagles are intelligent beings involved with their own life,
family, and survival. Or are they, as some would suggest, mere feathered objects that respond
only by instinct, without the capacity to recognize each other or their family? Emotional
responses by the public can be beneficial to wildlife conservation. This often encourages the
public’s interest in birds, raises awareness of the challenges wild birds face, and promotes
personal relationships and actions that aid wildlife conservation – including volunteerism and
financial support. People understand as never before that wildlife and the natural world matter
to them and that help may be needed, especially when humans are responsible for negative
impacts upon wildlife.
Because of this increased exposure to wildlife, education regarding legal and ethical issues,
conservation, and rehabilitation is paramount especially for the general public. Overly
emotional reactions to natural occurrences – such as eaglets’ failure to thrive, attacks by
nonmates, invasive nest encounters with other species, and calls for immediate intervention or
rescues – expose negative consequences of publicly viewed nest cams. While often well-inten-
tioned, individuals sometimes assume they must interfere with or even possess wildlife, including
eagles, in inappropriate or destructive ways. Overly emotional and potentially harmful engagement
by the public may be countered by fostering a more genuine understanding and appreciation for
wild species through increased educational opportunities and appropriate exposure to wildlife,
including to nonreleasable ambassador animals.