During the course of their short lives, three newborn eaglets have captured the hearts and eyes of millions.
I know this is the third post on the three baby Bald Eagles, but the fact that there have been more than 30 million views of the live webcam featuring those three cute birds makes it a topic that should be discussed again.
Watching these birds, which are now a few days old, has given me a much greater appreciation for the time and commitment birds give to their young. While I always knew that many birds are monogamous and put a lot of effort in caring for their young, I never witnessed it firsthand as I did with the birds on the webcam. The two parents worked seamlessly together sharing duties incubating the eggs, gathering food and guarding the babies from danger.
This live feed of the eagles tending to their young in their natural nest more than 80 feet off the ground is simply inspiring. I liken the experience to the nature documentary March of the Penguins, but without the narration of Morgan Freeman. The lack of narration makes it more fascinating in my opinion because you get to form your own thoughts and ideas about the birds and their behavior.
According to the Des Moines Register, Bob Anderson, the man behind the webcam, said that it’s taboo to give the chicks funny or cute names. The reason is that you should always distance yourself from the subject you’re studying.
Even though you’re not supposed to get too emotionally close to the subjects you’re studying, it’s impossible not to feel something for them or empathize with them.
Since the founding of our country, Bald Eagles have been a symbol of the United States, yet the birds felt ineffectual and distant. The live video gives the country and the world a relatable experience with Bald Eagles and wild birds in general.
Anything that sparks interest in birds will undoubtedly be positive in the constant quest to protect and understand wild birds.
As technology continues to improve, it’s very likely we’ll be able to have more of these raw, unfiltered images of wild birds in their natural habitats.
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