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It’s not uncommon anymore to see bald eagles in Pennsylvania.
It’s also not unusual to find a nest, as eagles have made a successful comeback and numbers continue to grow.
But Bill Williams, information and education supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northeast Region, cautioned that even though it’s a thrill to find an eagle nest, it’s critical to observe from a safe distance.
“There are more eagle nests so people are seeing them, but it’s important to stay at least 100 yards away to avoid disturbing them during this critical time,” Williams said.
Observing a nest with binoculars is recommended, yet there’s an even better way to get an up-close look.
The livestream from a bald-eagle nest near Codorus State Park in Hanover, Pa. has launched for a fifth season, with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary joining HDOnTap and Comcast Business as a partner in the project.
In the livestream’s first four seasons, the Game Commission had secured permission for audio and video equipment and components to be installed at the Hanover, Pa. nest, and the 24-7 livestream was made possible through services donated by HDOnTap and Comcast Business.
In the inaugural run of the Pittsburgh livestream and the first four seasons of the Hanover livestream, the Game Commission had provided the project’s primary educational component, with the agency working to explain wildlife behavior viewers see while watching, and answer their questions. This season, Hawk Mountain has taken over that role.
Hawk Mountain and HDOnTap will work together to help educate livestream viewers through a blog to be updated and posted bi-weekly during peak nesting season.
“HDOnTap is thrilled to be partnering with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, leaders in raptor conservation science and education, on the new Hanover Bald Eagle Blog,” said HDOnTap co-founder Tiffany Sears. “We hope this adds to the live cam viewing experience.”
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary shares that excitement.
“When you can show close-up footage of nesting bald eagles and their young, you’re going to get people hooked on raptors,” Hawk Mountain president Sean Grace said. “That’s exactly what we’re doing: HDonTap provides the footage and Hawk Mountain shares the science and expertise behind what the eagles are doing and why.
“This is yet another wonderful partnership. Learning and sharing about raptors is exactly what we do best, so this is a win-win.”
And judging by past numbers, the livestream is going to be popular.
During the first livestream of an eagle nest in 2015, there were more than 8.9 million page views and over 12 million streaming hours as people tuned in to watch eggs hatch and chicks grow. In 2016 and 2017, the page views totaled 10.2 million and 9.8 million, respectively.
Last year, the page views dropped to 3.9 million due to an early nest failure.
This year the livestream can be found on
The Hanover livestream can be found on HDOnTap’s website (www.hdontap.com).
Meanwhile, the Game Commission still is finalizing plans for its next livestream, which it hopes to announce in the coming weeks.
