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UPDATE: Bald eagle pair likely won't hatch egg this year

During the 2018 breeding season, a record 87 young hatched and 70 reached the important milestone of their first flight, known as fledging. (photo/AZGFD)

During the 2018 breeding season, a record 87 young hatched and 70 reached the important milestone of their first flight, known as fledging. (photo/AZGFD)

UPDATE: April 4, 2019

PHOENIX — For the past four months, viewers have been treated to round-the-clock glimpses of a pair of nesting bald eagles through a live-streaming camera installed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).

Now there’s not much to see but an empty nest made of twisted twigs and branches on the side of a sheer cliff above Lake Pleasant, a disappointing sign that any hope of the birds producing a hatchling will have to wait at least another year.

On Tuesday, 37 days after having laid a single egg for the fourth time since Jan. 21, the female eagle, perhaps sensing an abnormality, chose to destroy the egg. The typical incubation period is 35 days.

The nesting eagles attracted more than 367,000 views — including 9,200 on Sunday — since the department’s camera was activated Dec. 18. The camera is funded through Heritage and Pittman-Robertson Act funds, the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee, and public donations.

The eagle camera is one of four that offer unfiltered wildlife-viewing experiences. AZGFD also has installed cameras that provide underwater views of pupfish and seasonal views of wintering sandhill cranes in southeastern Arizona and a bat roost at Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area. All of the live streams can be viewed at www.azgfd.gov/livecams.

Viewers can support AZGFD’s efforts to conserve and protect more than 800 native wildlife species by purchasing a Conservation Membership package at www.azwildlifehero.com. All membership levels come with special benefits that range from an attractive set of wildlife notecards to an annual subscription to the award-winning Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.

April 3, 2019

LAKE PLEASANT, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona wildlife officials say the lone surviving egg laid by a pair of nesting bald eagles could begin hatching at any moment.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is livestreaming the view from inside the nest at Lake Pleasant. Since the camera went live in December, more than 320,600 people have tuned in.

Jeff Meyers with the department says the breeding season has been a roller coaster for viewers as the first egg was eaten by ravens. The second was eaten or damaged by a ringtail, and ravens were blamed for the demise of the third.

On Feb. 24, a day after losing the third egg, the female laid the fourth egg.

Officials say there’s a moderate chance of hatching and if it does, its parents will still have to fend off predators.


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