Snowy owl (shutterstock.com)

Live Bird Cams Bring the Outside In

By Taylor Smith

With programs like Google Earth, anyone anywhere in the world can transport themselves into another scene, another habitat, and another place. Similarly, bird cams serve as a virtual window into the lives of birds. The trend of streaming bird cams really heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people felt shut indoors and disconnected from the world around them. Webcams showcasing divergent bird species became voyeuristic, fun, and educational.

One of the leading bird cam websites is CornellLab Bird Cams at allaboutbirds.org/cams. Viewers can watch albatross chicks stretching their wings, elder ospreys devouring a fish, red-tailed hawks curiously staring into the camera, and pileated woodpeckers (indigenous to New York state) foraging for larvae and ants within some tree bark.

Bird feeder cam. (All About Birds)

CornellLab’s All About Birds website (allaboutbirds.org/news) is so in-depth and educational that there is literally a subject of interest for anyone. By creating their own personal Merlin Bird ID and downloading Bird ID Wizard from the Apple Store, bird enthusiasts will get access to bird identification tools for birds from around the globe, including matching features for bird size, shape, color, geography, songs, and calls. The app will automatically create a personalized “bird list” so that you can keep track of what birds you have seen in the wild. You can also submit your findings to eBird directly through the Bird ID. eBird enables outdoor enthusiasts to connect with other birders by sharing their observations. eBird mobile is available to download for free. The app includes 27 languages and offers monthly birding challenges, such as how to cover the most ground and maximize your sightings during a three-hour hike.

At their core, CornellLab’s webcams and free applications are meant to raise conservation, science, and awareness when it comes to best birding practices and ecological health. The data and statistics gathered by eBird and birders informs law and policy when it comes to species management and habitat protection. For those interested in browsing all of CornellLab’s range of webcams at any given time, allaboutbirds.org/cams/all-cams showcases highlights from their bird cams from the past 24 hours. This is a great way to observe a range of familiar and unfamiliar bird species that are sure to captivate and entertain. CornellLab is a division of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and specifically their world-renowned Ornithology Department.

Atlantic puffin (shutterstock.com)

Another organization that is indelibly tied with bird study, preservation, and education is Audubon. At audubon.org/birdcams, viewers can watch bird cams 24 hours a day from all over the world. If you are not familiar with Atlantic puffins, I would recommend browsing the Sea Island, Maine: Atlantic Puffin Ledge Webcam. The camera gives a detailed look at these funny, clown-like birds, which are quite small in real life and tend to move so quickly, bouncing off the sea rocks, that they can be difficult to observe in person. They are fascinating and athletic to watch. Almost resembling the color of a marine buoy in those cold, North Atlantic waters, you would never guess that they are flying around in the frequently fierce winds off the coasts of Northern Maine and Atlantic Canada.

As stated on Audubon’s website, “No matter the time of day, there’s almost always something happening on this [Sea Island, Maine: Atlantic Puffin Boulders Webcam] webcam and on these boulders, which were thoughtfully arranged by a glacier long ago. It’s where Atlantic puffins first settled when reintroduced to the island in the 1970s, and it’s now home to more than 100 nesting pairs. You can also watch the seals that give the island its name.”

This camera is monitored and maintained by volunteers at Hog Island Audubon Camp. Learn about camp outreach and educational programs at hogisland.audubon.org.

Great horned owl nest cam. (Owl Research Institute)

For all the owl fanatics out there, the Owl Research Institute (ORI) in Charlo, Mont., is a nonprofit dedicated to research, data, education, and preservation surrounding owls. This includes monitoring owl health and population size.

According to owlresearchinstitute.org, the dedicated team of scientists believes in the philosophy of “boots on the ground research.” They explain, “We spend hundreds of hours each year in the field and pride ourselves on the ability to operate in a variety of landscapes, uncertain conditions, and the ever-present logistical challenges that accompany working outdoors with wild animals.”

ORI allows free streaming of some fascinating owl cameras including nesting snowy owl, long-eared owl, great gray owl, and great horned owl, just to name a few. To take a break in your busy schedule and watch a great gray owl in a pillowy nest in the middle of a hollowed-out old tree is a sort of meditation. The great gray owl’s face is beautifully wide and broad with a sharp, hooked beak the color of sunshine. Recently, a mother owl appeared to have three fledgling (or juvenile) babies in her nest (as seen by their more mature stature and almost fully formed feathers).

Osprey nest cam. (Owl Research Institute)

Right in our own backyard, Duke Farms is a 2,740-acre environmental center in Hillsborough. The diverse ecosystems found on this property include meadows, woodlands, and wetlands. This rural haven is also home to roughly 247 species of birds and 523 species of plants. Visitors can freely roam the deep woodlands, historic architectural structures (like the Hay Barn and Coach Barn), Turtle Lake Path, Fox Hollow Lane, Great Meadow, Meditation Garden, observe the waterfowl at Habitat Hides, ride on the paved bike paths, and much more.

Nora Schnure, deputy executive director of personnel and programs at Duke Farms, describes the fall and winter seasons at Duke Farms and how they remain incredibly lively and vivid: “In Autumn, the landscape is transformed by a stunning palette of fall colors … just a short walk from our parking lot, you’ll find our Birding Platform. Here, a slight elevation gives you a fantastic vantage point to observe the birds amidst the oranges and reds of the fall foliage — you might even spot some migrating birds!

“Winter at Duke Farms offers a different, quieter beauty. The landscapes provide a peaceful, reflective experience. If you’re in need of a splash of color, the Orchid Range greenhouse is the perfect escape.”

Sustainability efforts ensure that the natural setting supports the area’s biodiversity. The park is free to enter, but a purchased parking pass is required for Saturday visits from March through October. Guests are welcome to bring their bikes or hiking shoes for strolling the trails before grabbing a bite to eat at the on-site cafe and farmers market.

Duke Farms also offers classes on Birding & Stewardship, An Evening with the Bats, Beginner’s Tree ID, and Life in the Meadow, among many others. Visit dukefarms.org to learn about more upcoming fall and winter programs.

Juvenile eagles. (Duke Farms, a center of the Doris Duke Foundation)

The Duke Farms 24/7 live eagle cam is one of the most interesting educational offerings on their website. At dukefarms.org/eagle-cam, viewers can check on the day-to-day status and activity of the majestic residents.

A bald eagle nest was originally discovered on the property in 2004 but, during the intense weather of Hurricane Katrina in 2012, the roosting tree was severely damaged, as well as the nest. The pair of eagles who resided there quickly rebuilt their nest that December, but it later fell apart in June 2023 (which is not uncommon for large eagle nests).

According to Duke Farms’ website, a pair of eagles are now building a nest in an American sycamore tree. This activity can be monitored and viewed through the website’s eagle cam. The nest is 80 feet above the ground and the camera points directly into it.

Inspecting the eagle nest. (Duke Farms, a center of the Doris Duke Foundation)

On the subject of the eagle cam, Schnure says, “The eagle cam offers a rare perspective into the lives of bald eagles and other birds of prey. These cameras can show a variety of activities, including breeding, incubating eggs, raising young, building nests, laying eggs, hatching, feeding, and fledgling.”

Eaglet banding is something that may occur at 6 weeks of age when a skilled team of certified biologists and wildlife veterinarians attach a band to the leg of a young bald eagle. The purpose of this band is to track the lifespan of a given bald eagle. Scientists are seeking to build knowledge on how bald eagles travel and move, their habitat use, and survival and population statistics. “Banding contributes to the stabilization and revitalization of the eagle population” says Schnure.

Duke Farms notes that it is proud to work with the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey to promote healthy forests, fish populations, and clean water, so that bald eagle populations around the Garden State can thrive.

Bald eagles (Shutterstock.com)

Another set of famous bald eagles can be found at the United States National Arboretum. Located in a bucolic spot in Washington, D.C., the webcam can be viewed at naeaglecam.org. The original pair of mated bald eagles built their nest in 2014 in a tulip poplar tree amongst the Azalea Collection at the arboretum, which is operated and maintained by the United States Department of Agriculture. According to their website, the pair raised one eaglet in 2015 and two in 2016. The mated pair were soon named Mr. and Mrs. President. Unfortunately, Mrs. President left the nest after the 2021 nesting season was over. Mr. President remained close to the nest, and eventually a new female arrived. The two quickly began work on adding to the nest as a couple. The new female was named “Lotus,” a nod to the first lady’s “FLOTUS” title.

Perhaps you think that if you’ve seen one bird, you’ve seen them all?

Well, live video streams of California condors will change that opinion definitively. These extremely unusual birds are sometimes referred to as the “Recovering Giant.” With roughly a population of 504 in the U.S., they once roamed throughout California and the entirety of the desert Southwest. The condor’s nine-foot wingspan often looks intimidating from below (some are mistaken for planes). They can also live until 60 years of age and generally reach the weight of a small toddler at around 23 pounds.

From high above, the California condor coasts in the air streams seeking carion. They’ll feed on all sorts of marine and mammal carcasses. Condors like to roost in very tall and old trees. In particular, the hollowed out upper reaches of the Redwood Forest suit their requirements. One can observe the California condors in the Redwood Grove at explore.org/livecams/condors/california-condors-redwood-grove. Livestreams at explore.org also provide webcams streaming from California condor reserves and animal sanctuaries. Those interested in taking action to preserve these majestic condors and other bird species can visit abcbirds.org/get-involved/take-action.

Educating current and future generations on the importance of bird conservation and ecological health is tantamount to global well-being. The accessibility and free streaming of bird cams is the perfect place to start if you are a novice environmentalist or a bird lover. You might be surprised at what makes your heart sing.