Nest Update April 28, 2013 - Ups and Downs Take 2!

Good Evening, Fellow BlankCamWatchersAgain!!

As you can see by the previous blog post we are without live cam until at least Monday morning. The server that takes the feed from the cam and sends it out to Ustream conked out for good about noon today. BBC hopes that they can have it back up and running tomorrow. Cross your talons, I know I am. I will try to post an update if I get one in the morning. Just think of how much bigger the kids will be when we see them again.

The day on the nest (what we saw of it) was gorgeous. A lovely spring Sunday to raise some eaglets. Harmony and Peace were doing their routine stuff and Mom and Dad were helping them grow as good eagle parents should. The only highlight we have from today is Harmony ejecting 4 pellets in a row this morning. 4!! Can you believe it?? She must have made some major room in her crop! Mom even helped her get rid of one of them.

Not having the cam actually lets me talk about something besides eagles. Don’t worry, its related! 

Have you ever really thought about how the picture and sound get to your computer??

Yep, didn’t think so! 

The graphic below gives a very simplified version of what it takes to get the picture and sound to you. 

It starts with the solar panels that provide power to the cam. That power is sent up the tree to the cam, then the cam makes pictures in HD digital form and sends them back down the tree. They are then sent to BBC by a radio uplink, that has at least two relays in it, and are received at their offices. At BBC the signal goes through a radio downlink, a server that controls the cam, a box that prepares it for Ustream and a router to get it out to the internet. Once in “the Cloud” it can pass through many routers and servers to reach Ustream. Ustream’s servers then take the signal and make a 2nd stream just for iDevices and other handheld smart thingies. Both signals are then re-uploaded to the Internet and on to what are called Content Delivery Networks. These CDNs serve different parts of the country and help to take the load off the main Ustream servers. These CDNs are also why I can have a great picture and sound in California but someone in New England can be suffering the dreaded Blue Circle Of Death. It all depends on the Internet and how crowded your part of it is. Things were so much simpler with point to point broadcasting! All in all, the signal may pass through upwards of 50 servers and routers before it gets to your screen. It’s amazing that it gets there at all.

There are lots of things that go on between the cam and BBC and out in the internet that are not included in this very simplified explanation. Try not to think about them and just enjoy the pictures and sound we receive. It’s what we are all here for after all!

There is both a short and long version of Harmony casting her pellets today.

MNBound Eagles Harmony Casts a Pint-Sized Pellet (Short Version)

And the long version.

MNBound Eaglet Casts 4 Pellets in 8 Minutes

I told you kids to stay put!

I leave you now with the hope that the cam will be up and running in the morning. BroadBand Corp has always gone the extra mile to keep the cam running and I am sure they will not fail to do so again. We thank them for the effort and cheer them on to success. Thanks to Razzle for the vids and pic today. I hope you rested up while the cam was down.

Here’s hoping you chatters and mods had a good day even with the cam down.

See you on the nest tomorrow!

TalonStrike

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them below or in the chat room.  Also, we'll be updating our official MN Bound LIVE Eagles Facebook Page regularly so you can follow along, like, or share with your friends.  We have several site moderators this year to help give optimal information to all that want to learn more about these magnificent birds.

To all of our Loyal Watchers and Perchers!

As you can all see we are having problems with the cam today. Word has come from BroadBand Corp that the server that uploads the cam feed to Ustream has crashed and will need to be repaired or replaced. They have stated that this may take until mid-morning or mid-day Monday. They know how much we all love to watch the eagles and are doing everything in their power to get the cam back online as soon as they can. We thank you for your eagle patience as we await the cams return.

Nest Update April 27, 2013 - Ups and Downs!

Good Evening, Fellow BlankCamWatchers!!

The cam spent a lot of the day offline today so we really don’t have a lot of vids for the day today. Make that any vids for today. We do not know what the problem with the cam was but we are grateful to BBC for getting it back up as quick as they could.

There was a lot of chat in SS about how close the kids were getting to the rails and how the rails needed to be higher. If you look at this pic that BBC took when they installed the new cam: 

You can see the rails then were plenty high and Dad has added a lot to them since then. The picture we see in the cam is deceiving because we are looking down at the nest. What looks flat is really a bowl that holds the eaglets very well. So, please don’t worry when they get near the edge. They are not going to fall out! Eagles are born to watch their world from high places and the eaglets are just following instinct when they try to peer out of the nest at the edges. Kirby fell last year because he was hit by a pelt Mom was moving in the nest and he couldn’t climb back in. It will not happen again this year. Lots of other stuff to worry about in this world. Our eaglets will be fine.

Harmony and Peace spent the day (what we could see of it) doing standard eaglet stuff. In other words eating, sleeping, eating, sleeping, PSing, eating, sleeping... Well, you get the idea. A few bonks were thrown in for good measure and we had a pretty typical day on the nest. Mom went fishing again and brought back a nice crappie. Dad brought in some mystery meat(it looked like it had feathers) and the kids were happy to eat all that was offered to them. Wish my kids had been like that! As dusk came to the nest their crops were filled and they settled in with Mom for a lovely spring night with the frogs in full voice.

We do have a Harmony and Peace Highlight reel that Razzle put together for us.

MNBound Eagles Highlights Featuring Peace & Harmony

When the kids manage to get off cam in the lower right of the picture this is where they are. Plenty of room there and no danger of falling. Harmon liked to hang out here too last year.

Bekka caught some lovely shots of a great spring afternoon in Minnesota.

Mich 989Razzle caught Mom dancing and trying not to step on Harmony. 

And the same with Peace a few minutes later.

Harmony gnawing on Peace’s foot. That kid is always hungry.

Peace bites Harmony’s beak. She gives as good as she gets.

Peace’s favorite PS place. She is getting good coverage on the rails.

And it looks like one of the neighbors ended up on an episode of Cops.

When I see days like today in Minnesota I sometimes wish I had never left. Spring there is worth waiting all winter to experience. The sights, smells and feelings of new life renewing itself are just the best. The Big Guy surely gave this place an extra dose of goodness when it was created. Thanks again to Grayc, Bekka, Razzle and BBC for the great pics. And a BIG thanks to the mod squad for keeping everyone entertained while the cam was down.

Hope you had a great day on the nest and we will see you there tomorrow!

TalonStrike

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them below or in the chat room.  Also, we'll be updating our official MN Bound LIVE Eagles Facebook Page regularly so you can follow along, like, or share with your friends.  We have several site moderators this year to help give optimal information to all that want to learn more about these magnificent birds.

Nest Update April 26, 2013 - Peace Catches Up!

Good Evening, Fellow RailWorriers!!

The “Are The Rails High Enough?” season got in to full swing today as Peace decided it was her turn to gambol about the nest. She took off on her journey early and followed Dad and Mom around the nest all day, well, in between food comas and crop stuffing that is. Harmony was no slouch in the gallivanting department either. She checked out Harmon’s old perch on the tree trunk and found his fave spot for napping. Mom and Dad were having a high old time trying to keep up and keep them corralled. Once Dad actually sat on Peace to keep her still for a while as Harmony slept in front of him. Chatters had a great time trying to keep track of who was who and the classes we had today were awed to see them out and about. 

Tomorrow should be another lovely day on the nest as spring is in full swing now. The eaglets fell asleep tonight serenaded by frogs that were not heard just a couple of days ago. All of the good things about spring in Minnesota are happening now and we are glad you are here to share them with us.

A comment on yesterdays blog from ChrisK asked how to tell the eaglets apart. Well, today was easy because Peace had a dirty spot on her head all day. Usually, if you watch closely, you can see that Harmony is bigger than Peace. Peace’s head is smaller and her neck is skinnier. Harmony, being older, is changing color also as her secondary down grows in. Its a darker gray than the hatch down. There are other differences but those are the easiest to spot. Chris, I hopes this helps. Thanks for the comment. 

On to the vids and pics of the day!

Mom brought in some new dry carpeting from Menard’s and ran into Dad. Harmony helped spread it around.

MNBound Eagles Little Helper with Big Grass Delivery

Peace starts on her long trail to life’s adventures with an excursion in the nest.

MNBound Eagles Peace Scoots Around the Nest

Dad shows the kids what OSD is all about. 

MNBound Eagles Dad Trips All Over Himself

Some sibling kisses!

Peace with her spotted head today.

Harmony’s secondary down growing in.

Harmony wondering why Peace is being sat on.

And Peace looking longingly at some food going to Harmony.

Late in the day a chatter thought they saw a knife embedded in the nest material during a pan. It turned out to be a sharp stick down near the camera mount.

A great day on the nest to be followed by a warm and sunny weekend! What more could you ask for? 

Thanks go to Gazgeorgia, Bekka1017, and Razzle for the great vids and screencaps today. And as always thanks to BBC and MN Bound for the great cam.

Hope you had a great day on the nest and we will see you there tomorrow!

TalonStrike

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them below or in the chat room.  Also, we'll be updating our official MN Bound LIVE Eagles Facebook Page regularly so you can follow along, like, or share with your friends.  We have several site moderators this year to help give optimal information to all that want to learn more about these magnificent birds.

Nest Update April 25, 2013 - An Expedition out of the Nestbowl!

Good Evening, Fellow NestEscapeArtists!!

Harmony decided that today was the day to begin to explore the world outside the brood patch. She and her sibling were peeking out from under Mom and Dad all day as the spring weather finally kicked into high gear. Lots of time was spent by the eaglets sunning themselves and soaking up rays. Mom and Dad kept their crops topped up and held choir practice to scare off some interlopers in the area. Harmony managed to climb out of the bowl and helped Dad keep watch on the kingdom. Peace tried to keep up with Harmony but the effort was too much and she took naps instead. As the day faded the eagles were treated to a lovely sunset and the promise of an even warmer day tomorrow. 

So as we watch Mom and the kids in the moonlight I offer up the pics and vids of the day for your enjoyment.

Mom sat with the kids facing the cam so we got a great closeup of them trying to see their world.

MNBound Eagles Keeping an Eye On Peace & Harmony

Harmony began her explorations with Mom watching her every move.

MNBound Eagles Mini Escape From Under Mom

As Dad was scanning the pond Harmony kept watch on the other side of the nest.

MNBound Eagles First Time Sitting Alongside Dad

Later in the afternoon Mom is on the nest when Dad flies in and lands on the porch branch below the nest. Mom calls out her instructions and departs quickly. Dad flies up to the nest and watches over the sleeping babes.

MNBound Eagles Here Comes Dad

DUCK! Harmony’s attempt to take out the cam. 

Are you talking to me??

Yo Mom! You gonna feed me or what??

Whaddya mean I look like a featherduster??

Where do you think you’re going??

Well thus ends another wonderful day at the MNBound nest. Thanks as always to BBC for the cam and to Razzle and Bekka and all the mods and chatters for making this a special corner of the Net! 

Hope you had a great day on the nest and we will see you there tomorrow!

TalonStrike

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them below or in the chat room.  Also, we'll be updating our official MN Bound LIVE Eagles Facebook Page regularly so you can follow along, like, or share with your friends. We have several site moderators this year to help