Web camera provides view of nesting eagles

Raptor lovers can now watch a pair of bald eagles without leaving their home or office computer.

Working with state and federal biologists, the BioDiversity Research Institute has installed a Web camera near a bald eagle nest in coastal Hancock County. The camera broadcasts live, real-time video and audio to a computer which posts the images and sounds on the Internet.

The “Eagle Cam” is available free online at www.briloon.org.

The camera is located in a tree near the eagles’ nest and is equipped with a silent zoom lens.

Wing Goodale, a research biologist at the Gorham-based BRI, said the female eagle laid at least one egg in recent days. Eagles typically lay two or three eggs, which take slightly longer than a month to hatch.

The BioDiversity Research Institute is a nonprofit ecological research group based in Gorham that focuses on environmental study and education. The institute is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and several corporate and nonprofit sponsors on the project.

Kevin Miller, BDN