Latest news with #NationalConservationTrainingCenter
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
West Virginia eagle parents repairing second nest after losing three chicks in storm
SHEPHERDSTOWN, (WBOY) — Bella and Scout, an adult eagle pair living at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, have already begun repairing a second nest after their nest was blown out of a 90-foot tree during a storm last week. The three chicks in the nest, who were about four weeks old—named Sage, Echo and Cotton by local students—all died when the nest fell, to the dismay of viewers across the U.S. that watch the nest on the NCTC live Eaglecam feeds. According to NCTC officials, eagle nests are not engineered to last forever. During the weekly 'Live from the Eagle Nest' livestream on April 24, Randy Robinson from the NCTC said that they 'knew that the upper nest would not last forever,' and that the 22 years that it lasted was a good lifetime of an eagle nest. Over the 22 years, 45 offspring were fledged from the nest, which Robinson said is a 'very productive nest.' While the old nest was 'obliterated,' there is a second lower nest that the pair built last year, about 15 feet below the older nest. In fact, biologists expected the pair to use the new nest after it was built, but they used the old instead. Wild deer named Bucky who visits bar and homes investigated by West Virginia DNR That new nest only suffered minor damage in the storm, and Bella and Scout have already been seen on the new lower nest making repairs, and although there is a small chance that they could mate and lay a new clutch this year, it is more likely that the next clutch will be in 2026. NCTC officials will inspect the nest and reposition the cameras in the fall when there's no eagle activity. Viewers can continue to follow the eagles at the NCTC by watching the live Eaglecams, following the NCTC on Facebook, and tuning in for 'Live from the Eagle Nest' specials on YouTube. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
22-year-old eagle nest in West Virginia blown from tree, killing 3 chicks
Video is a chick hatching at the NCTC nest on March 24, 2025. SHEPHERDSTOWN, (WBOY) — Severe storms that blew through the region on Saturday caused damage in West Virginia and beyond, including to an eagle nest that people have been watching on a livestream for 20 years. The National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, announced Monday that the 22-year-old eagle nest on its campus was knocked down in the storm around 10 p.m. The three four-week-old eaglets did not survive the 90-foot fall, the center said. Although there more than 100 other eagle nests in West Virginia, this nest had a live camera installed in 2005, and people and classrooms across the state have enjoyed and learned from watching new eagles hatch and grow there for 20 years. The nest was built in 2003 and the first eggs were laid there in 2004. Storm causes damage, power outages in Mon, Preston counties 'We extend condolences to everyone who enjoyed daily visits to the NCTC Eaglecam and many thanks for all the kind words of support,' the NCTC said on social media. Even though it is 'A Sad Day at the NCTC Eagle's Nest,' the NCTC remains hopeful. The eagle pair built a second nest in the same tree last year, and neither of the adult eagles appear to have been harmed when the nest fell, so it hopes to see eggs and continue the Eaglecam next season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WATCH: West Virginia bald eagle egg hatches on live Eaglecam
SHEPHERDSTOWN, (WBOY) — All three of the eagle eggs at the National Conservation Training Center's (NCTC) upper nest in Shepherdstown, West Virginia have hatched, giving people across the world a chance to see the wonder of nature live. The first of the chicks hatched on Thursday, March 20, and the last hatched around 10 a.m. on Monday, March 24, which is right on time—about 35 days after they were laid in February. If you missed the hatchings, a video of the third chick emerging from its shell is available in the player above. The video is taken from the live Eaglecam, which is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Conservation Training Center, and the Outdoor Channel. A look inside the most wish-listed Airbnb in West Virginia Now that the chicks have hatched, they will continue to live and grow inside the nest with their parents Bella and Scout until they are about 10-12 weeks old. After that, they will fledge, or leave the nest for the first time, and then become fully independent about six weeks after that. Viewers can continue to watch the eaglets grow on the live Eaglecam here. One chick survived to fledge in 2023, but in 2024, none of the eaglets survived more than a few hours after hatching. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
West Virginia bald eagles lay season's first egg on live Eaglecam
SHEPHERDSTOWN, (WBOY) — The first eagle egg of the season has been laid at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The egg was laid in the 22-year-old upper nest on its campus on Monday afternoon at 4:36 p.m., according to the NCTC. Although bald eagles can be found across West Virginia, the NCTC nests have live camera in them, giving people the unique chance to watch the eagles interact and the eggs be cared for and even hatch in real time. The NCTC training center said that eagles normally lay one or two eggs, and multiples are usually laid a few days apart. If you watch the nest camera closely, you might get a chance to see the egg as the parents take turns incubating and turning it, like they do in the video clip above. 2025 West Virginia Vacation Guide now available for free Chicks normally hatch after about 35 days, so this egg could hatch in mid-March. However, the two chicks that hatched last year at the NCTC nest did not survive. This year, there is also a new lower nest at the NCTC only about 15 feet from the original 22-year-old nest. The NCTC said in January that it has seen activity on both nests, so there is possibility that there could be eggs in both. You can watch live camera on both nests online here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
