A family affair is again playing out live on the state Department of Natural Resources' EagleCam.
Three eagle eggs were laid as of Jan. 31, and male and female bald eagles can be seen sharing time incubating the eggs on the streaming feed from the nest.
"We have seen the incubating parent roll the eggs frequently as well. This rolling behavior is one of the things the adult eagles need to do to keep the chicks inside the eggs alive," said Erica Hoaglund, a specialist in the state's Nongame Wildlife Program.
The eagles have been doing well keeping the eggs warm and dry, Hoaglund said in an e-mail interview. "We are about halfway there for the first egg. We will start watching for the hatching at the end of this month." The eggs are incubated for about 35 days.
Hoaglund said specialists expect to see the three eggs hatch 1-2-3. "This head start on life for the first eaglet is quite apparent for the first few weeks of the eaglets' lives. This competition between siblings is normal for eagles and helps ensure that strong, healthy eaglets fledge."
As for the parents in view, female eagles are typically larger than the males. In this pair, the female appears to have a brighter, whiter head than the male, according to the Nongame Wildlife Program.
The EagleCam, in its fourth year, is popular. Sometimes, too popular.
"We have also been focusing on protecting the birds from too much love from the public," said Hoaglund. She said the camera has shown a few people visiting too close to the nest, and that the birds are sensitive to nearby noise and activity as they protect their offspring.
