Libby Dam Bald Eagle Nest Cam, Montana - 2007 - www.libbyeaglecam.com
2007 Activity

Current Image

Libby Dam Web Cam

Pictures below are from last 24 hours:
(Click thumbnails for bigger picture)   Click here for 2008 Activity
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2007 nesting season:

Editor's Note: This webpage is by LibbyMT.com and is not an official webpage of Libby Dam or for the Libby Dam Bald Eagle Cam. Click here to go to the US Army Corps of Engineers' Libby Dam web page for this bald eagle cam. This page has been created and pictures used with permission of the US Army Corps of Engineers/Libby Dam.

July 19, 2007 - Eaglets fledged: “This is a big "thanks" to everyone who has been with us for the 2007 nesting season. For all the behind the scenes people "great job", and of course all you Eagle viewers thanks for the contributions in making our site such a success. We have heard from eagle watchers all over the country, and for that matter other parts of the world. It has been a wonderful process to watch from the beginning when the adults started the nesting process (March 15, 2007), to egg laying (March 26, 2007), to hatching (April 30, 2007) and finally fledging (July 13,2007). The down side of fledging is we will not see much activity at the nest now that they have experienced the freedom of flight.  We wish them the best of luck in their new found freedom. The story behind them is very remarkable to say the least, since the species was near extinction. This is truly a banner year for our nest and Eagles in general. Both eagles survived the nesting process and the species has recovered from near extinction to being de-listed from the endangered species list. Let’s hope we continue to have the success we have seen in the past carried on to the future. Hope to hear from all you Eagle watchers next year, until then!!”   - Mark Andreasen, Park Ranger with the Libby Dam

Libby Dam Eagle Cam: The Libby Dam eagle cam is located near Souse Gulch on the Kootenai River. This nest began in 1996 and has been active for the past 10 years. Two eggs were laid in the nest in April, 2006. Eaglets hatched in May. Both adults take turns tending the nest.

This image is updated every 2 minutes. (You may need to refresh your browser page to view the latest image). Scroll down this page for technical information about the camera set up. Look at the column to the right for historical information about the nest, eaglets and how many fledglings since 1996. In general, the nest becomes active in March and eaglets fledge in late July or early August. A breeding adult pair produces 1-2 young eaglets each year.

To see the current image from the Libby Dam Eagle Cam, which updates every 10 seconds, click on this link: http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/PublicMenu/Menu.cfm?sitename=libby&pagename=eagle_cam_main

This webcam is sponsored and maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers Libby Dam Project. For more information about the nest, contact Libby Dam Park Ranger Mark J. Andreasen, Phone: 406-293-7751 ext 253 or e-mail mark.j.andreasen@usace.army.mil. Photo images used with permission.

 

Camera Equipment:
Camera: Pelco Color Surveillance Camera Windows Media Encoder: COE-COMPUTER " Osprey 100 PCI video capture card " Belkin F5U204 USB video dongle " Windows Media Encoder 9.00.00.2800 Windows Media Server: COE-COMPUTER " Windows Media Services 9.00.00.3380.

Camera Setup:
The camera is a Pelco color surveillance camera with a 2-10 mm zoom lens. It is zoomed in at about 4 mm to include the entire nest bowl. The camera and lens are housed in a Pelco sealed, weatherproof, camo painted, outdoor enclosure with heated interior. The small heater inside the enclosure keeps the lens from fogging up.

The enclosure is attached to the branch with lag bolts and is approximately 100' above the ground. The camera and heater run on 24 volts ac. There is a 120:24 volt transformer in the enclosure in which 120 vac supplies the equipment.

One power and one signal (coax) cable go down the tree to the ground. From there they go 600' underground to the Libby Dam weather station which overlooks Lake Koocanusa. At the weather station the eaglecam picture signal goes to a microwave transmitter and is transmitted about a mile, at a baud rate of 115,200 kbps, to a receiver on top of the Libby Dam Visitor Center. From that receiver a coax cable goes down into the Visitor Center ceiling. In the Visitor Center ceiling the signal is split two ways. One goes to a monitor in the Visitor Center display area where the public can view the live broadcast on a television monitor. The other way goes to the Visitor Center basement where there is a computer that broadcast it over the local area network and to the internet.

More technicall details from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Eagle Cam Camera setup

More info:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Threatened & Endangered Species: Bald Eagles
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Midwest Region) Bald Eagle Links

Live cam at the Libby Dam Visitor Center. Photo by LibbyMT.com.
Libby Dam. Photo by LibbyMT.com.


LibbyMT.com

2008 Activity

2007 Activity

2006 Photos

May 18, 2006
May 17, 2006

May 16, 2006, nest has 2 eaglets
2006 Bald Eagle Nest

Nest History:

2007:

July 13, 2007:
Chicks fledge (leave) the nest. Adults and chicks return occasionally in the days thereafter.

April 30, 2007:
Eggs hatch. 2 chicks.

April 25, 2007:
Two eggs still present in nest.

April 16, 2007:
Adult eagle sitting on eggs. Two eggs observed.

March 26, 2007:
Two eggs observed in nest.

March 22, 2007:
One egg layed in nest. Both adults nest-tending. Egg laid around 3:30 pm.

February 5, 2007:
Nest-tending activity observed by two adult bald eagles.

January 26, 2007:
Adult bald eagle observed on nest.

2006:
March 27, 2006:
2 eaglets in nest
0 fledged

2005:
July 20, 2005:
1 eaglet fledged
March 27, 2005:
One of the eaglets died from unknown causes.*
March 22, 2005:
2 eaglets in nest

2004:
July 23, 2004:
1 eaglet fledged
March 31, 2004:
2 eaglets in nest

2003:
August 2, 2003:
1 eaglet fledged
April 21, 2003:
1 eaglet in nest

2002:
July 11, 2002:
2 eaglets fledged
March 12, 2002:
2 eaglets in nest

2001:
July 18, 2001:
2 eaglets fledged
March 21, 2001:
2 eaglets in nest

2000:
July 16, 2000:
2 eaglets fledged
March 21, 2000:
2 eaglets in nest

1999:
July 11, 1999:
2 eaglets fledged
March 21, 1999:
2 eaglets in nest

1998:
July 27, 1998:
2 eaglets fledged
April 18, 1998:
2 eaglets in nest

1997:
July 14, 1997:
2 eaglets fledged
April 3 , 1997:
2 eaglets in nest

1996:
June 23, 1996:
Nest started

*Note: It is not uncommon for eaglets to die in the early stages of development.  Death may occur from natural causes, predators, competition for food, or even Fratricide (killing of one's sibling).

Nest History
Bald Eagle Facts
(Libby Dam pages)

Libby Dam Project
Libby Dam Visitor Center
Kootenai River Drainage
Kootenai River Flows

LibbyMT.com
info pages:
Libby Dam
Lake Koocanusa
Kootenai River
LibbyMT.com • info@libbymt.com • 406-293-3608
LibbyMT.com. Webcam photos used with permission from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Libby Dam.
Other photos by LibbyMT.com unless otherwise credited. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.