A Decision

It is time for me to spend more time watching the eagle cams that I love and less time working on getting out the info. There is an abundance of info now available for the NCTC Eagles Liberty and Belle. I believe all of you who are subscribed to this Feed from this NCTC BLOG are active Momsters getting regular emails or lurkers or Bloggers at the BLOG, as am I. Therefore this BLOG really no longer serves any needed purpose. It is time for me to put down a seperate blog for Lib and Belle . They will always have a seperate special spot in my heart and I will feature them at times on The For the Love of Eagles Blog, which will also become less active but cover highlights of the upcoming Eagle Season.

I will be leaving what is currently here as a Memory to the first and second season and all that was shared together at that time.

I do wish and look forward to watching and enjoying a new season with this special pair. I also look forward to the chance to meet those of you who plan to come to the NCTC Open House on Oct 20. After seeing them for 3 nights in a row on our new cam, I am now convinced that I just might get a chance not only to meet many of the Momsters, but also to see this Beautiful pair of eagles.

Godspeed Lib and Belle. You two have changed my life.....and from what I have read and heard, I am not the only one.

Cam is on and Eagle is present!!! :)

What a Beautiful way to start the New Season for NCTC ...Welcome Back Liberty and Belle....Thanks Steve and all who helped get us up and running for a new season.

New Cam has been installed

NCTC is ready for our New Eagle Season to begin!

We Still love you Spunky...Happy Flag Day!!!

An Eagle named Spunky:

Did not come into this country with an easy life ahead. It would be a struggle. It would take courage, stamina, perseverance, lots of hard work and fortitude....Could it be done? Would it be done? We watched it played out before our eyes from a nest in West Virginia. There are pages of information about this nest from 2006, and Spunky in particular, so I will not retell it all here today. A brief video will tell the story of an eagle and a nation.

Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagles Fly

Spunky's story

The play by play of Spunky's fledge



This eagle is not so different from each of us ...life holds for us times of needed courage, fortitude, hardwork, struggle, and perseverance. When you watch that bird that symbolizes the United States of America; and now that you have learned so very much more of how that beautiful soar actually came to be, remember that as a country we too must continue to struggle and persevere often through hard times. The young eagles today are a sign of the struggle courage and perseverance of those who Soared before.

There is a lesson here as we enjoy the success of young fledging from an eagles nest, and soaring into the freedom into which they were born. I am not sure where you see yourself playing out the role of an American, but those who came before you have passed a rich Heritage to you. I hope that you will guard it well, and preserve it for many a generation to come.

Did You Know about this?

There is still a shop where you can purchase Eagle items to benefit the NCTC eagle cam project?



Did you know that newly designed items continue to be added to this shop.

Do you need a Patriotic T Shirt or perhaps one with a Christian Theme from Isaiah 40:31?

These shirts are now available in the store.

All proceeds continue to be sent to Friends of NCTC for their eagle cam project.
Yes the cam needs help. Yes there are big plans in the offing for next year. Come alongside and help us out won't you?

You can see many more items and read more about these shirts here at my Cafe Press Shop for Eagle Lovers that I continue to stock with "Our Beautiful Eagle Family from Shepherdstown WV.

Lib and Belle as photographed by Momster Jill

FilmLoop of eagle photos from NCTC trip

Momsters head to the nest. Liberty and Belle do NOT disappoint

Words cannot fully describe how beautiful the events of today have been. Six
of us momsters were in attendance at NCTC at 10:00am give or take a few
minutes. Norma,Helen (Mits), Jill, Wanda (Costumelady), Robyn (Robyanne),
myself & my daughter Jennifer. Thelma, Steve's appointed welcoming committee
of one met us and gave us the scope on things we could do. Steve was on a
break from his meeting & met with us for about 10 min and then Thelma took
us a short tour. We were then set lose!
We viewed the exhibits at the Auditorium Bldg and then all 6 jumped into 2
cars and headed for the road by the barn in front of the Sycamore Tree!
There waiting for us was OUR EAGLE - up on his high branch above the nest.
We were all so excited & some of you very well know the feelings we were
having! He sat there for a very long time giving us the profile look and
then would look right down on us.I was excited and didn't time his visit but
it must have been a good half an hour or more. Finally off he flew & we
followed his majestic flight which we think led him towards the river. We
then went to the Commons Bldg & visited the gift shop. Up to the cafe where
we met Steve & enjoyed the delicious lunch food and the conversations
amongst Momsters & Steve. It was so relaxing & comfy-the buildings are
beautiful. Down we went to the gift shop & made some purchases of eagle
items! Young lady clerk said she had never sold so much eagle merchandise
before. We then explained why that was!! We then planned to end our day with
some of us going back over to the nest just in case...... AND THERE SHE WAS
WAITING FOR US! On a different branch - lower in the tree but still above
the nest. The visit wasn't long but it was so beautiful to see her take
flight! Lots of hugs between the Momsters and lots of smiles of happiness
until we all got on the right road to go home with all of our memories of
today.

Thanks for sharing these memories MeMa Jo

Still at the nest a lot...just maybe

Hey NCTC Fans...Don't count us out just yet

WE've got all of you hoping and praying for us...Our Guardian Eagles for sure, and we've even got spidey showing up at the nest again too

Well and word has it that lots of you have spotted us working there and well ya know eating and stuff like that dessert happenings etc....So keep stopping by, turn on the cam and check for yourself, you just might be very glad that you did.

Our Season appears to have come to a close

The storm of last week has taken its toll on the nest this year. Godspeed to this beautiful pair of eagles and their family. May He bring them both back safely to us next year.

A Difficult day followed by a difficult decision

It is with a sense of deep frustration and sincere regret that I have made the decision this morning to NOT continue updating this BLOG on any regular basis. The lact of technical support and dependability with the still and live cams out of NCTC makes it evident that to try to do so is futile on my part and most likely also equally frustrating for you as a reader. IF and When I see that the cam situation has actually been resolved I will once again feature with their own BLOG the First nest and the eagle pair that still captures my heart. I will include them on the For The Love Of Eagles BLOG on a regular basis provided I can get the photos and maybe even an occasional video of this pair. I will leave you with the picture that speaks a thousand words to me about the struggle and determination to survive that this eagle showed 3 or 4 times yesterday as she strove to get herself through the storm she was facing in that nest...

The pictures start with her almost buried deep in the snow, raising those awesome wings and getting out just long enough to get the snow away and get back to her egg(s) and hatchling(s)...sadly I can't even tell you how many of either eggs or hatchings were in the nest during the storm but it does appear hatching is here, and this very young family has had to deal with horrendous weather on hatching day.


It is my hope and prayer that we will all continue to see this nest flourish through the eagle season. Unfortunately I can not even share an updated photo from today on how they are currently doing as out of the several eagle cams online, many of which experienced or are currently experiencing a storm, it remains the ONLY ONE not viewable, and experience has told me it will stay that way all weekend and then who knows for how long

We Missed pretty much all of the egg laying and we are now missing the hatchings...just not gonna continue on this roller coaster when there are other cams to enjoy while we continue to hope for this situation to change.

Hoping to see you back here, meanwhile enjoy the eagle cams as they are featured on the For the Love of Eagles BLOG.

A Live feed visit with Liberty and Belle

I am going on vacation. I will be back by March 12. Wishing you all great eagle viewing. If you would send me a picture or two a day from the NCTC nest I would absolutley love to see them Thanks Glo

gkeeslar@sbcglobal.net

Something Fishy at NCTC

Feb 28 NCTC and a little shared excitement hint

Another major storm for NCTC eagle family

Thanks to Megan for the first snow pictures in my email this morning. Also Thanks to Mema Jo for sending several more while I napped after my own 14 hour ordeal with no powere and an ice storm.

Feb 23 and Live Cam is back up

The snow is gone in the nest..all seems well

Feb 20 Still cam..and Brief glimpse of Special Moment on Live cam Too!

A week of caring for these eggs in the snow, Here Belle carefully turns them

Storm has passed Cam is on and Our Eagles have both checked in

They have obviously dealth with a tremendous amount of snow. I also know from those who live in the area that they were pounded with ice coming sideways during the night. Temps are bitter cold, but there they are and they are Beautiful.

Blanket Raffle Results

The Raffle raised $200

Making a total of $401.08 which I will have sent to Friends of NCTC

Feb 13 Snowstorm out east

Three eggs at NCTC again this year.

Feb 10 NCTC Still Cam is on

Feb 9 2007 Still cam back on

Still hope and should know this week if its gonna be a cam season at NCTC

Although for now I will continue to update this BLOG as there is still hope for this cam Season out of NCTC...I did want to let you all know that there are other cams actively up and running now and 2 of them have sitting eagles. Actually word from NCTC is that Belle is also possibly a sitting eagle. But since the cam continues to present problems for viewing this pair I wanted all of you to know a similar Feed Blitz runs off of the For the love of Eagles

I update this BLOG very regularly as well. All of the active cams I am aware of are linked off of this same site. Go take a look at last nights or even all of last weeks entries. Think about subscribing to that BLOG while you are there AND if you subscribe be sure to confirm your subscription in the email that is immediatley sent to you once you sign up...If you are not getting those Feeds from there it is because you have not completed your subscription to that BLOG...It doesn't make an extra email...Feed Blitz send out ALL subscribed feeds to you in 1 email. Go directly to that site by clicking here...If you love eagles I think you will enjoy this BLOG as well...meanwhile will be hoping praying and watching for cam updates from NCTC as well.

Memories past and hopes and dreams of the future

I am so sorry for all the Cam down time this season has started out with. I know this is frustrating and I wish I knew how to convice those who haven't watched before that this particular pair of eagles is worth waiting for...well they are, and we are all hoping for the part the fixes the cam for good to arrive very soon.
MEANWHILE

A few fun clips from the Season past because I needed an NCTC eagle fix and my guess is lots of you did too.

Memories of NCTC while we wait
Video sent by glo77

For those wanting a more current view of eagles take a look at the Maine eagles today here

Eagle Blanket Raffle

While we continue to undergo some cam issues and await the delivery of the part that is supposed to keep us up and running for good, I thought this would be a good time to introduce to those of you who may not know, that there is one Final Fund Raiser to help support or fix the Eagle Cam. We are raffling off a Queen Size Eagle Blanket. Tickets are $2 each of $10 for 6. You can see the blanket here Checks should be made payable to Jo Ellen Lennox and mailed to

Jo Ellen Lennox
PO Box 674
Middletown, MD
21769

Put the number of tickets you are purchasing in the memo of your check. I would appreciate it if you would also send an email to me:

gkeeslar@sbcglobal.net

telling me you have placed a check in the mail. All checks need to be received by Feb 10. The drawing will be Feb 14. The winner and total of the proceeds will both be announced on this site after the Prize Drawing. Good luck and thanks for taking part in this Raffle.

Jan 29 Busy day and lots of time at the nest

You can go to daily Motion and view this large here

Jan 29th Lots of time at the nest today
Video sent by glo77

Liberty and Belle late pm Jan 26

No egg yet. We are not sure exactly how long Belle did stay at the nest last night as the cam stuck somewhere around 11 p.m.

Jan 25, Approaching Egg Nite

Egg night Jan 25_0001
Video sent by glo77

Jan 22 Active yet snowy day at the nest!

Jan 22 NCTC Active day at the nest
Video sent by glo77

FilmLoop for Jan 17 and 18

Bald Eagle Biology

I tired to post this as a link to have it readily available, but template won't pick up the link for some reason. Anyway this article has some Great info on the eagles.

I think you will find it informative and to some extent downright astounding!

Good eating at the nest today!!! Jan 17

Good Eating at the nest today also!
Video sent by glo77

Defending the Nest jan 17, 2007

Jan 17 defending the nest NCTC_0001
Video sent by glo77

Amazing piece of work by the Eagle in this film.

This amazing video was actually filmed on Jan 9. This is the first chance I have had to upload it! I think its awesome!!!

amazing display Eagle Craftsmanship
Video sent by glo77

Jan 12, at NCTC A Productive Day for sure!

NCTC a productive day for sure! Jan 12,
Video sent by glo77

A Sticky Situation Chapter 2

Sticky situation chapter 2
Video sent by glo77

Love is in the Air.

If you haven't told your kida about the birds and the bees, this is NOT a family video. Also if you still think baby eagles come from storks, well it's your choice whether or not to watch this short video.

Love is in the Air
Video sent by glo77

Luvulation at the Nest Today Jan 8, 2007

Luvulation at the nest longer version
Video sent by glo77

If you enjoy the splendor and beauty of eagles in general I would like to invite you to also view the action at For the Love of Eagles here you will find Video and Photos of Eagle cam action from many places around the web.

Today's video over there is from the Eagles in Florida whom we watched here earlier this week show us the making of a brood patch. There is a Feed Blitz sign up on that BLOG as well If you want to know when that site is updated.

From this point on this BLOG will only feature the NCTC eagles...BUT many cams are getting much more active!!! Go visit...Sign Up and keep up to date on Eagle Season 2007 the easy way....I will do the work I love and you can enjoy the result!

A very "sticky" situation

A very sticky situation_0001
Video sent by glo77

Brood patch and Nest care exchange

Incubation: Heating Egg
For an egg to develop normally, it must be exposed for a considerable length of time to temperatures a few degrees below the normal 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) avian body temperature. Indeed, the ideal incubation temperature for many birds' eggs is about human body temperature, 98.6 degrees F. Almost all birds create the required temperature by sitting on the eggs and incubating them, often transferring heat via a temporarily bare area of abdominal skin called the "brood patch."

On the other hand, the embryo inside the egg is also very sensitive to high temperatures, so that in some situations eggs must be protected from the sun. Ducks with open nests, for example, will pull downy feathers (originally plucked to form their brood patches) over the nest to cover the eggs when they leave it, providing shade if the weather is hot and helping to retard heat loss when it is cold.

Brood patch and nest care exchange
Video sent by glo77

Embryos are less sensitive to cold than to heat, particularly before incubation has started. Mallard eggs have been known to crack by freezing and still hatch successfully. Eggs cool when incubation is interrupted, but this is not usually harmful, and few birds incubate continuously. Instead egg temperature is regulated in response to changes in the temperature of the environment by varying the length of time that a parent bird sits on them or the tightness of the "sit." For instance, female House Wrens (which incubate without help from the males) sat on the eggs for periods averaging 14 minutes when the temperature was 59 degrees F (15 degrees C), but an average of only 7.5 minutes when it rose to 86 degrees F (30 degrees C).
Many birds apparently sense the egg temperature with receptors in the brood patches, which helps them to regulate their attentiveness (time spent incubating) more accurately. Since the embryo itself increasingly generates heat as it develops, periods of attentiveness should generally decline as incubation progresses. Attentiveness is also influenced by the insulating properties of a particular nest.

Eggs are also turned periodically -- from about every eight minutes by American Redstarts to once an hour by Mallards. The turning presumably helps to warm the eggs more evenly, and to prevent embryonic membranes from sticking to the shell.

Eagles and boobies exhibit "obligate siblicide," in which the larger chick invariably kills its smaller sibling. For example, of more than 200 records of two-egg clutches followed in the Black Eagle of southern Africa, only one record exists of both chicks surviving to fledging. Obligate siblicide also occurs among pelicans, owls, and cranes. In obligate siblicide, which occurs even when food supplies are abundant, the second egg serves as insurance against loss of the first egg from infertility, predation, or damage, rather than as a means of rearing two chicks.

Copyright ® 1988 by Paul R. Ehrlich, David S. Dobkin, and Darryl Wheye.



My added comment. Just this one sentence on obligate siblicide once again points to the

Season of Miracles for 2006, and this particular pair of Birds and their 3 successful fledges!!!!

Building, Incubating and Defending the Eagles Nest

To enjoy the music that accompanies today's video, FIRST go to bottom of this page and hit STOP on the John Denver song.

Dec 29 winging it through Jan 2
Video sent by glo77

To see the entire video of Cartwheeling from the National Geographic Site go here: