Storm heading to Big Bear…Late Wednesday in Bird World

5 March 2025

Hello Everyone,

I am sending this out because of the storm heading to Big Bear. There will likely not be a long post on Thursday. Shadow – get some more fish on that nest!

My inbox is full of people so elated over Jackie and Shadow’s little bundles. So am I. Buckets of good tears.

One note caught my eye and hence this posting now.

The first note comes from ‘B’ who writes: “You know how popular Jackie and Shadow are when the press is even publishing the storm warnings for them. Here’s a storm alert for Big Bear. Hope Shadow gets some fish laid in the fridge.”

https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/storm-big-bear-bald-eagle-chicks

They are the cutest little eaglets. Others agree! https://youtu.be/ZSL3GfBMEyg?

Big Red and Arthur, the Red-tail Hawks on the Cornell Campus now have a live camera! Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/afsaYKQ3vac?

Big Red and Arthur have been visiting the nest. They were there on Wednesday the 5th and on the 3rd doing nestorations. https://youtu.be/_65FdR8LblI?

Oh, I dislike that camera at Frenchman’s Creek. The resolution is so poor it is hard to tell if there is one osplet, two, or three. There has been a lot of speculation, but I trust Heidi – she is always spot on! This is her report an it is what is going in our data forms for the 2025 osprey breeding season.

“3/5 Second hatch … Mom seen removing half shell around 0525, so I’ll call that hatch time.  

So, most likely scenario is: “Egg 1 hatched on 3/4 at 38 days, and Egg 2 hatched on 3/5 at 36 days, and egg 3 was the egg that had been ejected from the nest.”

At Fort St Vrain, a fourth bald eagle egg was late on March 5. This is a first for the nest. Normally Bald Eagles lay between 1-3 eggs. Four is very rare.

Bluff City has its hatch – BC26! https://youtu.be/HvbmHgXd7y8?

Pip watch continues for the second egg at Johnson City ETSU.

Severna Park Osprey platform cam is live: https://www.youtube.com/live/RuLQ2C6J094?

Florida Owl Cam: Both of the owlets are believed to have died. A loyal reader who has observed this nest saw the youngest owlet (20 days old) begin to tremor and fell off the nest. Was ‘shoveled’ back and fell and then put in a bucket without holes attacked to the pole below the nest. Then the camera is off again today. It is presumed the second owlet has died. While this is sad, there reader made a very interesting statement that I want to share. “I didn’t know this sort of thing happened with people who put up cameras. They are so expensive to set up. I really thought they would be educated people and know what to do if an animal fell from at least 20 ft. Animals who aren’t built for it, like owls. We will never know what made them ill, and that’s a real shame for the rest of the animals around there.”

To my knowledge, anyone can set up a nest and a camera on their property. There are no regulations that I am aware which means that the individual that runs the camera doesn’t have to be either educated or care about animals. Seriously. I had a chat years ago with Tiger Mozone who believes that putting streaming cams on wildlife platforms should not be done. Many put up the cameras simply to make money. Others use them for research. Some are purely entertainment. You do not necessarily know which one you are watching.

How do people make money off of streaming cams?

“A wildlife streaming camera, depending on its setup and popularity, can generate income ranging from a few dollars per month to several hundred dollars per month through various monetization methods like advertising, sponsorships, or viewer donations on platforms like YouTube or dedicated wildlife streaming services; however, the exact amount can vary greatly based on factors like viewership, content quality, and the platform used. 

Key factors affecting income:

• Viewership:The more viewers a camera has, the more potential for ad revenue and sponsorships.
• Content quality:High-quality, engaging wildlife footage will attract more viewers and potentially higher paying sponsors.
• Platform used:Different platforms have different monetization options and reach.
• Camera location:A camera positioned in a unique or interesting wildlife habitat can draw more viewers. 

Monetization methods:

Subscription fees: Some wildlife streaming services may offer paid subscription tiers with additional features. 

Advertising: Platforms like YouTube can generate ad revenue based on views.

Sponsorships: Companies may sponsor a camera in exchange for exposure on the stream.

Viewer donations: Some platforms allow viewers to directly donate to the camera operator.”

I do not believe that individuals should make money off of wildlife. I also believe that anyone running a streaming cam that is viewed by the public has an obligation of care to the wildlife that they are using to make money. This includes calling the wildlife rehabilitation clinic the minute there is a sign of illness, if the bird falls off the nest, etc. One good example is SW Florida that works closely with CROW. If you are going to watch a streaming cam then make sure that you are helping those that help the animals!

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care. We hope to see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams: ‘B, Heidi, MP’, FOBBV, laist.com, Cornell Red Tail Hawks, Fort St Vrain Bald Eagle Cam, Frenchman’s Creek, Sara A, Severn Park Ospreys