The new zoooom view looks great! They should have been doing this all along! Should give us a really good look at the babies when they hatch, too.
*Note the 5061 viewers on the bottom of my snippy.


Published by Peter Fullbrandt

Here is an explanation of what happens as an embryo becomes an eaglet - All about hatch! This is written by Mary Anne Reid, who really knows her raptors. She is also very close to Berry College and the Berry eagles. When you see her posts on Berry FB, pay attention!

From Mary Anne Reid:

I hope I'm not being too presumptuous, but I wanted to share to first time viewers 'What to expect" as we near that important "hatch date". First, average incubation period for bald Eagles is 35 days. I personally have seen it go as long as 39..but, that is rare...so, don't panic if we don't see a hatch on Monday (2/17).

Prior to hatching, the hatching muscle begins to grow on the back of the chick's neck. It will also develop its "egg tooth" on the top of its beak. The chick will position itself in the egg and break through the air sac which is located at the wide part of the egg. (think of a chicken egg..ya got the pointy end and the rounded, wide end) The little eaglet is now able to breath..and peep!! The parents will hear this, so watch for changes in their behavior, ie cocking their head from side to side, looking under them more, etc.

Next, the chick will peck its first hole near the top of the egg (not the very top, but about 2/3 rds up the egg. This is call the "pip"...and now it is ready to start the journey of "unzipping" the egg. As it rotates its body within the egg, it starts to peck away at the shell, usually all the way around the egg until it can push the two parts of the egg apart.

You may notice an increase of parent interest during this time period. The chick will also take frequent rests/naps because breaking out of this egg is tough work. Usually the parent does not help. This entire process can take up to 24 hrs..(I've actually seen it happen longer and on rare occasions only a few hours after seeing the first pip)

Some females will refuse to leave the nest as hatching grows closer. Some males (or females) will bring food to the nest as hatching draws near. I don't know the personalities or habits of this pair, so it will be fun to see what they do. So watch for food and watch for mom not wanting to leave.

Don't be alarmed if the eaglet is not fed immediately. Prior to hatching they absorb the rest of the yolk. This provides lots of nutrients. I have actually seen hatchlings go for 12 + hours after hatch..even if there was food in the nest..so, don't panic!! Some sources/experts suggest that hatchlings can go for 24 hours without their first feed.

The eaglets are unable to regulate their temp, so mom/dad will stay on them very tightly!!

well, that's it in an "eggshell"...I'm sure others can add the stuff I missed. Hope this is helpful for you first time viewers....its really amazing to watch!!

An intruder, possibly a great horned owl, challenged Mama Berry as she incubated her eggs tonight. Priscillash captured the following video:

I took a snip from the video and it sure looks like those familiar long, skinny legs we all know and love. It's hard to tell from this one fast video but IF it's Barney, he'll be back again. I sure wish there was sound and then we'd know for sure. click, click, click, click, BAM!
Whoever it was, it's talons came awfully close to those eggs tonight!

I made a slow motion video from Eaglewhisperer18's original video. Last night I was really only looking at the legs of the owl (it was late and I was sleepy) but I think the pic above and this slow motion video clearly shows a Great Horned Owl face. What do you think?

Quote: Birdie828 wrote in post #149

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Patticake!!!! I made it~!~

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Mom was on alert and kept her wings spread on the nest last night. Imaginations went wild wondering what was out there. Was it that big, bad Great Horned Owl again?
Peter Fullbrandt captured a video that I believe solves the mystery of the big, bad, boogie man. Watch the tree trunk on the right of mom. It looks like a chipmunk or some other little critter scurrying up the tree. Probably scared to death that it ran into an eagle! LOL

This is incubation day #38 for the 1st egg. Cornell says incubation is between 34-36 days. Lots of people watching and waiting with over 9900 viewers as I post this.

PIP!!!!!!

Berrys Eagles Checking for pip video,About a minute into video,2/21/14

Published by eaglewhisperer18

Well, it was an interesting night at Berry Eagle Nest Cam. And I am NOT talking about the pip.

Chatter redboat2 kept asking how we know BerryCollegEagleCam is for real. We've had that same discussion on Raptor Central chat. Well, finally BCEC said good night and redboat2 kept going. Well, bless Pat, if *new* chatter berryweb didn't show up and announce that BCEC is a troll and has been banned. This *new* chatter is the one & only official moderator - this is now published on Ustream below the live feed. Well, pick me up off the floor and wring me out!

Now -- what have we come to believe that is total fiction???

Not only do we have pip at Berry, the hatchling is almost here! A piece of the eggshell has broken away and you can see the little baby just wiggling away!

Papa eagle is "pacing," flying in & out - LOL.

Oh, and by the way, I could swear there's a pip in the other egg too. Wouldn't that be nice?!

Mom stood back so we could all have a good view.