The eagles of Hays proudly presented their first egg of the year Tuesday as viewers at the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania watched via live-streaming video.Soon after the egg dropped, Audubon activated night vision capability on its tree-mounted wildlife camera so viewers everywhere can watch.
See close-up real-time images inside the bald eagle nest at aswp.org.Delivered at about 6:40 p.m., the egg arrived at the start of this female’s typical egg-laying range of Feb. 13 through Feb. 17.“She was still for a long time and we knew something was happening,” said Audubon spokeswoman Rachel Handel.
“Then at 6:45 p.m. she stood up and actually rolled the egg for the first time, and we could see it.”Since November the Hays couple had been rebuilding their nest following a collapse last year.
The new location is on the same steep hillside overlooking the Monongahela River.The high-definition camera, which was relocated in December, captured nest building and mating behaviors until recently.
Now, with an egg in the nest, their daily routine is expected to change dramatically.A statement from Audubon said one of the parents will stay on the nest constantly incubating the egg.
The adult eagles will take turns on the nest, never leaving it unattended.This resilient pair has nested on the Hays hillside since 2013, but were forced to rebuild several times due to nest collapse -- one year the tree they were nesting in fell.
Last year three eggs were laid at Hays, but just one eaglet survived to fledge in June.Ms. Handel said more eggs are expected soon. Generally there’s a two- to four-day span between their arrival. Hatching usually occurs after about 35 days.
The Hays webcam is jointly managed by CSE of Pittsburgh and Audubon. The state Game Commission granted a special permit for the camera and live feed to be used for educational purposes.
This year there will be no live feed from another Allegheny County bald eagle site in Harmar.
The nest collapsed late last year and the eagles rebuilt at a nearby location that Audubon said is unreachable.There are no cameras at bald eagle nest sites in Crescent, Glassport and at a new site at North Park.
John Hayes: 412-263-1991, jhayes@post-gazette.com.
First Published: February 13, 2019, 1:26 a.m.
Updated: February 13, 2019, 1:32 a.m.