Decorah Eagle

Decorah Eagles (and eaglets!) on the Big Screen

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 3:00pm to 6:00pm
  • Library Hall

BWML is bringing in the birds! The Decorah Eagles have laid three eggs this year and they are due to start hatching as early as March 23.

If you're not familiar with the Decorah eagles and their famous 24/7 web cam, check it out here

We're projecting the nest live on the library's big screen for three hours (3-6 p.m.) before our free screening of Life Force:Madagascar. Stop in and see this amazing phenomenon (and hopefully three little eaglets!) at life size!

Info about the Decorah eagle nest from the Raptor Resource Project:

  • How high is the nest? About 80 feet.
  • How big is the nest? About 6 feet across, about 5 feet deep; it weighs close to 1367 lbs.
  • How old is the nest? The eagles built it in 2007. A previous nest close by fell when a windstorm broke one of the branches.
  • Which is the male and which is the female? It is hard to tell the difference unless they are both on the nest. The female is larger than the male. This female has an arched ridge above her eyes that goes further back than on the male, and her eyes are surrounded by a greyish shadow; the ridge above the male’s eye is shorter and seems a little closer to the eye. The male has a line around his eyes that makes them look “beady,” and his head looks “sleeker” than the female’s.
  • What is the history of this male and female?
    They have been together since the winter of 2007-2008. Her markings at that time indicated that she was about 4 years old. They successfully hatched and fledged 2 eaglets in 2008, 3 in 2009, 3 in 2010, and 3 in 2011.
  • What is the area around the nest like? The nest is in a cottonwood tree on private property near the Decorah Fish Hatchery (operated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources), on the banks of the babbling waters of Trout Run in extreme northeast Iowa. The nest can be seen from the hatchery, but visitors to the hatchery should keep their distance from the nest tree, both to respect the private property where the tree is located and to avoid disturbing the eagles. 

And, they have a really cool blog loaded with facts here.

Great stills of the past month and a half with mom and dad on the nest here.

About the Raptor Resource Project
Established in 1988, the non-profit Raptor Resource Project specializes in the preservation of falcons, eagles, ospreys, hawks, and owls. We create, improve, and directly maintain nests and nest sites, provide training in nest
site creation and management, and develop innovations in nest site management and viewing that bring people closer to the natural world. Our mission is to preserve and strengthen raptor populations, expand participation in raptor preservation, and help foster the next generation of preservationists.