Where in the world is the wildlife?
It’s always a treat to catch a glimpse of a soaring bald eagle or an osprey diving for fish. But when wildlife is out of sight, do you ever wonder where they go and what they do? Fortunately for us, wildlife can video chat too!
Well, almost.
The growing popularity of wildlife webcams allows citizens, scientists, and citizen scientists alike to drop animals a line anytime!
Answer an incoming call from…
Bald Eagles at the National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia
Drop in and on this cam and you’ll watch two eagle parents hard at work building and tending their nest. You might catch the pair sharing a meal, shielding their eggs from predators and winter storms, and eventually raising their young. Newly hatched eaglets are like kids, they’ll pull all the attention away during a video call. These charismatic eaglets will typically hatch after 30 to 45 days of incubation and will fledge in 10 to 14 weeks. As they prepare for flight the youngsters will put on quite a show, flapping their wings and hopping from branch to branch. Follow along as biologist provide nest updates, eagle watching tips, and answer your questions on their Facebook page.
Osprey at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland
From the comfort of your own home to the tall views of the nest tower this wildlife webcam lets you check in on the osprey that call Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge home. When they’re not catching fish or whistling in the skies, ospreys keep busy tending to nests located on man-made platforms and dead trees that overlook the water.
Migratory Waterfowl at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland
On a separate wildlife webcam at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, enjoy the sights and sounds migratory waterfowl ponds. Unlike your grandparents who can’t seem to figure out where to look during a video call, this webcam always faces the right direction. Check out all kinds of different wildlife interactions and weather events as the camera slowly pans and rotates between a variety of different vantage points. The best time to stop in is between October and March when wintering species like tundra swans, Canada geese, snow geese, and over 20 species of ducks visit the Refuge.
Seals at Falkner’s Island in Connecticut
Check in on Falkner’s Island to have a look at these lazy sea logs. The vast majority of seals on this webcam are harbor seals. As their name implies, they tend to stay close-by, within twelve miles from shore. They spend most of their life in the water and will even venture up rivers in search of their favorite foods. This includes salmon, bass, mackerel, herring, cod and squid. Seals will take advantage of rocks to rest and escape predators like orca and shark. When harbor seals rest easy in their legendary banana pose, it’s a positive sign that they’re hanging out stress-free and undisturbed by people. By visiting wildlife virtually we can lower the stress caused by human and boat traffic leaving the wildlife to do what they do. Even if what they do is pretend they’re a banana.
Puffins at Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge in Maine
Just a click away, you can find yourself exploring the rocky outcrops of a remote island 21 miles off the coast of Maine. On this webcam you’ll be able to pop-in on Atlantic puffin families as they enjoy their ocean-front home. During the winter they are offline and out of sight, spending the season floating as a raft in the flourishing waters 200 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. In spring, mated pairs will pop back into frame ready to raise their offsping. Baby puffins also known as pufflings remain hidden, born in rocky burrows away from predators. Puffin’s breeding cycles are so synchronized that when pufflings have fully matured all of the adults will leave the island within a few days. Under the cover of darkness young puffins will then make their way to sea starting a life that can last up to 30 years!
If you’re feeling a little stir crazy there’s plenty of online opportunities for a new view. Wild webcams are the perfect way to stay in touch with your favorite species. Get up close and personal while maintaining a safe distance for both yourself and them.
