Messy Bald Eagles 'Obscure' Cameras At Oklahoma Nest

The Sutton Avian Research Center in Bartlesville is giving people around the world the opportunity to see how bald eagles raise their young.  There's just one problem.  The eagles are messy.

The Center has set up cameras on two eagle nests.  One is on a pole near Stillwater, the other is in a tree near Vian in the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.  

This year the Stillwater eagles chose another nest site so they're raising their young off-camera.  But the Vian eagles have hatched three chicks, all of whom are maturing nicely and in full view of two remotely-controlled cameras.

That was, until last week.

"Yes, three young in the nest can get a bit splashy when it comes time to void the last meal," said Dr. Steve Sherrod, executive director of the Sutton Avian Research Center.

Over the years the staff at the Center has just about perfected the art of capturing bald eagles raising their on camera and sharing the images with the rest of the world.  But there's just one thing they have no control over:  eagles, both young and old, are messy.

Dr. Sherrod says the three chicks -- hatched on January 24, January 25 and January 29 -- are responsible for "obscuring" the view of the lower camera on the Vian nest. 

See how the cameras have been "obscured."

"The higher camera, however, in exactly the same place as last year, appears to have been the target of one of the adults perched above the nest," he said.

It appears it was an accident, not an indication the eagles wanted more privacy.  

Dr. Sherrod says the staff is working on cleaning both cameras.  The problem is the nest is located near the top of a very tall tree.  

"This is a tough tree to climb since the middle half is covered with poison ivy. We are currently checking on using a crane to get up there and clean off the cameras, something a good rain might do if we wait long enough, but, of course, and understandably, everybody wants a clear view now."

In the meantime, it IS possible to see the eagle chicks on the nest, just not as clearly as before.  You can also donate to the Center by visiting its web site.