Live Hanover, Pennsylvania Bald Eagle Nest!

Home of "Liberty" & "Freedom" 

In Partnership with Pennsylvania Game Commission & Comcast Business  • Powered by HDOnTap

 

This live video feed has been granted a Special Permit by the Pennsylvania Game Commission for educational purposes. The Game Commission's mission is: To manage wild birds, wild mammals and their habitats for current and future generations. 

 

Welcome to the Hanover Eagles 2020-2021 Season

HDOnTap is excited to announce the 2020-2021 season launch of the Hanover, PA Bald Eagle nest cams! In coordination with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. 

This 2020-2021 season the eagles have been very active at the nest early, visiting the nest regularly since late August and September. 

 

Watch the Hanover Cams on the Multi-Cam Player!

 

*** There are two separate URLs for the Hanover Eagles ***

1.) Hanover Chat (this page)

 • The live stream is a Multi-Cam Player. The camera views = 4K Cam & PTZ • Chat

2.) Hanover Eagles 

• The live stream is a Multi-Cam Player. The camera views = 4K Cam & PTZ • NO Chat. Page admins can only post to this page. The posts contain informational text, pictures and video highlights about bald eagles and specifically the Hanover eagles. 

 

 

Bald Eagle Facts

The bald eagle's history in Pennsylvania is a precarious one. Only 30 years ago, Pennsylvania had a mere three nests left in the entire state. With the help of the Canadian government and several agencies including the Pennsylvania Game Commission, bald eagle chicks were brought back to PA to reintroduce bald eagles to the Northeast. 

The bald eagle is the only eagle unique to North America and about half of the bald eagle population lives in Alaska. Bald eagles live along the coast and on major lakes and rivers where they feed mainly on fish. 

Eagles sit at the top of the food chain, making them more vulnerable to toxic chemicals in the environment, since each link in the food chain tends to concentrate chemicals from the lower link. A bald eagle's lifting power is about 4 lbs.. Generally, they do not feed on domestic livestock or pets, but they will make use of available food sources. Bald eagles will take advantage of carrion (dead and decaying flesh). 

Both male and female adult bald eagles have blackish-brown back and breast; a white head, neck and tail; yellow feet, legs and beak; and pale yellow eyes. Immature bald eagles have a mixture of brown and white feathers, with a black beak and brown eyes in younger birds; some immature bald eagles have more mottling than others. Adult plumage develops when a bald eagle become sexually mature; it takes five years for a bald eagle to attain solid white head and tail feathers.

It's possible for bald eagles in the wild to live longer than thirty years, but the average lifespan is fifteen to twenty years. A female bald eagle's body length varies from 35 to 37 inches; with a wingspan of 79 to 90 inches. The smaller male bald eagle has a body length of 30 to 34 inches; with a wingspan ranging from 72 to 85 inches. An eagle's average weight is ten to fourteen pounds. Northern birds are significantly larger than their southern relatives.

A bald eagle's skin is protected by feathers lined with down so they are very tolerant to cold temperatures which they experience in Pennsylvania! Their feet are cold resistance, consisting of mostly tendon. The outside of the bill is mostly nonliving material, with little blood supply.

 

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2022 SEASON

Season Summary:

• August 3, 2021 - Freedom returns to the nest for brief visit
• August 28, 2021 - Great Horned Owl enters the nest
• August 31, 2021 - GHO visits the nest early in the morning walks to the edge and trills out
• September 14, 2021 - GHO returns to the nest
• September 21. 2021 - GHO visits in the early morning
• September 24, 2021 - Early morning visit from both Eagles
• October 3, 2021 - GHO returns to the nest and settles into the bole, making regular trilling out noises
• October 7, 2021 - Both Eagles stop by the nest in the morning
• October 15, 2021 - GHO returns to the nest
• October 20, 2021 - First Stick brought into nest and Liberty stays the night in the nest, a little after midnight she vocalizes and Freedom is heard in the background calling as well. 
• October 22, 2021 - Owl can be heard near the nest, both eagles take watch in the lookout tree and in the nest to stand their ground (View Highlight) 
• October 26, 2021 - Owl calls can be heard around the nest tree but Liberty sounds the alarm from the nest 
• October 31, 2021 - Both Eagles visit the nest around noon, aerating the nest
• November 3, 2021 - Early visit from female eagle 
• November 8, 2021 - GHO returns to the nest with a mouse for dinner, another larger owl joins, takes the meal and they both fly out of the nest
• November 9, 2021 - Liberty enters the nest in the morning
• November 17, 2021 - Female eagles hears the GHO calls at around 2am, she lets out warning calls 
• November 21, 2021 - GHO returns at night 
• November 22, 2021 - Liberty starts to dig into the bole and nestle in, then moves sticks around
• November 23, 2021 - Liberty visits in the morning for sunrise 
• December 4, 2021 - Both Eagles enter the nest together, Male leaves soon after, Female moves around lots of sticks
• December 9, 2021 - Both Eagles visit the nest early in the morning
• December 12, 2021 - The GHO returns to the nest and tries to land but is chased by Liberty and then 
• December 13, 2021 - 7:47am Stick tug of war in the nest (View Highlight) 
• February 12, 2022 - First Egg Laid
• February 15, 2022 - Second Egg Laid
• March 22, 2022 - First Hatch (38 days incubation for Egg #1) 
• March 23, 2022 - Second Hatch 
•  

2021 SEASON

Season Summary: Clutch of 2 eggs, 1 hatch and 1 fledge

October 4, 2020 - Female's first visit to the nest
October 16, 2020 - Both eagles seen at nest
October 17, 2020 - Both eagles in Sentinel tree, first stick brought into the nest by the male
October 18, 2020 - Both eagles in nest at 7am and 3pm 
October 19, 2020 - Both eagles in nest, moving around sticks 
October 23, 2020 - Both eagles meet in nest
October 27, 2020 - Both eagles meet in the nest, moving around sticks for about 45 mins in the nest together before leaving
November 4, 2020 - Female eagle returns to the nest with one stick
November 11, 2020 - One eagle returns to the nest and moves sticks before taking off
November 14, 2020 - One eagle returns to the nest briefly in the morning
November 15, 2020 - Both eagles meet in the nest around 6:33am, Male leaves nest first, with the Female not far behind. Female eagle returns back to nest and repositions a few sticks before leaving the nest. Female returns back with a stick. 
November 19, 2020 - Female arrives first followed by Male, both eagles move sticks and peck at the bole, leaving and returning several times, hay is brought into the nest as soft material for the bole, Male rearranges sticks, Female joins and the two continue to dig into the bole of the nest
November 20, 2020 - Male rearranges sticks, Female joins and digs in the center of the nest until sunrise and then leaves at 7:12am
November 26, 2020 - Both eagles visit the nest
November 29, 2020- Male enters nest moves around sticks
December 1, 2020 - Both eagles spotted at the lookout tree
December 2, 2020 -  Both eagle survey the nest and shuffle around with sticks, Female attemps to cast a pellet, she continues to move the same stick around the nest, her beak looks dirty from dirt/debris, Male returns to the nest with a stick, then later with fluff for the center of the nest. (watch highlight clip)
December 3, 2020 - Female gets comfortable in the nest and then leaves about 10 minutes later, Male comes into the nest and then leaves about 12 mins later, Female returns to the nest with Male following shortly after, a stick goes over the edge while the eagles rearrange the sticks around the nest. 
December 4, 2020 - Both eagles return to the nest in the morning around 7:19am and 10:46am, they return back in the afternoon at 4:30pm and move sticks 
December 5, 2020 - Both eagles return and move around sticks in the rain
December 10, 2020- Both eagles return and move sticks, at some point the stick is moved that was in the way of the POV cam
December 17, 2020 - Eagles return in the nest and start to dig out after a snow storm (watch highlight clip)
December 30, 2020 - Squirrel is in the nest and female eagle givees a wing slap
January 7, 2021- Both eagles enter the nest with fluff
January 8, 2021 - Female sits on the bole for an extended period of time
January 10, 2021 - Female sits on bole for long period of time
January 19, 2021 - Male has a meal in the nest 
January 23, 2021 - First time Eagles mate on camera this season
January 26, 2021 - Female spends a good amount of time sitting in bole. 
January 27, 2021 - Male brings the female a large meal then the two eagles copulate 
January 29, 2021 - Eagles copulate (Read Blog and Watch Highlight)
January 30, 2021 - Eagles copulate two times 
February 2, 2021 - Female Lays Egg #1 (Watch Highlight)
February 5, 2021 - Female Lays Egg #2 
March 12, 2021 - Pip first noticed on egg 
March 13, 2021 - H313 hatched at approximately 6am, about 34 hours after pip was first noticed
April 2, 2021 - Intruder perches above the nest (Watch Highlight Part One or Highlight Part Two) 
April 14, 2021 - Eaglets 30 Day Birthday (Watch Highlight)
April 20, 2021 - Fishing Line gets tangled on Adult's talon, who carries the fishing line out of the nest. (Watch Highlight)
April 22, 2021 - Eaglet starts to take bites on their own. (Watch Highlight) 
May 26, 2021 - Eaglet Practices Branching (Watch Highlight) 
May 30, 2021 - Eaglet Falls from the Tree (Watch Highlight)

 

 

ATTENTION HANOVER EAGLE VIEWERS - We recognize that over the years this bald eagle pair has been named by the public and is commonly referred to as "Freedom" and "Liberty". While we understand that naming the eagles helps connect and distinguish the female from the male eagle, naming the pair introduces an element of domesticity to wild animals. In order to respect the eagles and focus on their natural history, we will refer to the female and male as such as per recommendations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. 

 

To View Hanover Highlights from Previous Seasons, Watch our Hanover YouTube Playlist. All Highlights from this season are in the Hanover Highlight Gallery. 

 

2020 Season

Season Summary: Clutch of 2 eggs, none were hatched

• October 24, 2019 - “Freedom” & “Liberty” spotted in Sentinel tree
• October 28, 2019 - “Freedom” visits nest (watch clip), both eagles spotted in Sentinel tree
• November 2, 4-6 & 9, 2019 - Both eagles in Sentinel tree
• November 14, 2019 - Both eagles in Sentinel tree, seen flying in distance 
• November 15, 2019 - Both eagles in Sentinel tree (watch clip)
• November 16, 2019 - Both eagles in Sentinel tree
• November 17, 2019 - Both eagles in Sentinel tree 
• November 18-19, 2019 - One eagle in Sentinel tree
• November 21 - One eagle in Sentinel tree
• November 23, 2019 - Both eagles in Sentinel tree 
• November 25, 2019 - One eagle seen in Sentinel tree multiple times 
• November 26, 2019 - One eagle in Sentinel tree 
• November 29 - 2019 - One eagle seen in Sentinel tree two seperate times 
• November 30, 2019 - One eagle in Sentinel tree 
• December 3 - 4, 2019 - Both eagles seen in Sentinel tree 
• December 5, 2019 - One eagle in Sentinel tree 
• December 7, 2019 - One eagle in Sentinel tree
• December 9, 2019 - One eagle in Sentinel tree
• December 10, 2019 - Both eagles in Sentinel tree
• December 21, 2019 - Nestorations begin (Watch timelapse clip)
• January 16, 2020 - Liberty & Freedom "Exercising" on Nest (Watch Clip)
• February 13, 2020 - First Egg Laid (Watch Clip)
• February 18, 2020 - Second Egg Laid @ 6:11pm EST (Watch Clip) *The appearance of the second egg did not look "normal". After laying the second egg, it appeared as though Liberty tried to roll the new egg, it broke and she ate the contents. The second egg wasn't seen on the cameras since this incident. 
• March 29, 2020 - Incubation Day 46 for egg # 1 -  "Liberty" consumes egg 

 

2019 Season

Season Summary:
Clutch of two eggs, two hatches, two fledges

• December 3, 2018 - Cameras turned on for the season
• February 26, 2019 - First egg laid at 5:08pm EST (watch clip)
• March 1, 2019 - Second egg laid at 6:23pm EST
• April 4, 2019 - First hatch @ 9:20am Eastern (watch clip)
• April 6, 2019 - Second hatch @ 9:30am Eastern (watch clip)
• June 18, 2019 - "Star" is knocked off the nest by Liberty (watch clip)
• June 23, 2019 - "Star" returns to the nest (watch clip)
• June 30, 2019 - "Stripes" fledges (watch clip)

 

2018 Season

Season Summary:
Clutch of two eggs, no hatches, no fledges

• January 3, 2018 - Cameras turned on for the season
• February 20, 2018 - First egg laid (watch clip)
• February 23, 2018 - Second egg laid (watch clip)
• Events of March 17, 2018 and beyond:
  The cameras were disrupted and unavailable due to an electrical malfunction from the morning of March 17th to early March 19th. 
  During this time, the PGC reported that there appeared to be another adult eagle around the nest. From the PGC:
  
  “Extra” bald eagles may be adults that have not yet paired up and claimed a territory; they may attempt to interfere with this pair in order to claim a mate or territory. With the population filling the available habitat in many parts of Pennsylvania, it would not be surprising to see some increase in nest failure as a result of these interferences and competition disrupting the care of nest and young. The big takeaway lesson, bald eagles are well-adapted to Pennsylvania. They are well-adapted at selecting nest sites, building nests, and caring for eggs and young. This is one of the great lessons of the Game Commission’s bald eagle recovery effort and its annual monitoring of active eagle nests. As bald eagles are filling available habitat in some parts of the state, there will be some conflicts between competing eagles. We have never in modern history been witness to such conflict events and we will all learn as we go. In most conceivable circumstances, nature will be allowed to take its course without intervention. Should an injured eagle end up grounded, the Game Commission could facilitate its transfer to a licensed rehabilitation facility.
  
  It is not possible to know the events that transpired while the cameras were shut off, however, it appears that the "extra" adult eagle engaged the resident eagles in conflict at the nest, potentially in an effort to claim territory. It is unclear what happened to the resident female (commonly referred to by viewers as "Liberty", although the PGC does not name wildlife). It appears that the resident male (commonly referred to as "Freedom") continued to incubate the eggs alone and may have been subject to additional conflicts with the "extra" adult eagle over the next few days.
• March 21, 2018 - The two eggs were left unattended during a winter storm and were exposed to harsh conditions, ultimately becoming buried under the falling snow. The eggs are believed to have become non-viable due to these events.
• March 22, 2018 - The "extra" adult eagle (now being referred to by viewers as "Lucy" and distinguishable by black markings on the tail wing tips) and the resident male made several visits to the nest throughout the day, both alone and together. In the evening hours after a joint visit, the black tipped eagle consumed one or possibly both of the eggs.
• Late March and beyond - The nest continued to see visits from various eagles, including juveniles. While it is not possible to know for certain which eagles visited the nest, it is widely speculated that the adults included Freedom, Lucy and Liberty.
• May 4, 2018 - Cameras turned down for the season

2017 Season

Season Summary:
Clutch of two eggs, two hatches, two fledges

• December 28, 2016 - Cameras turned on for the season
• February 10, 2017 - First egg laid
• February 13, 2017 - Second egg laid
• March 20, 2017 - First hatch
• March 21, 2017 - Second hatch
• June 7, 2017 - First Fledge
• June 10 - Second Fledge
• July 3, 2017 - Cameras turned off for the season

2016 Season

Season Summary:
Clutch of two eggs, one hatch, no fledges

• December 17, 2015 - Cameras turned on for the season
• February 18, 2016 - First egg laid
• February 21, 2016 - Second egg laid
• March 28, 2016 - First hatch
• March 30, 2016 - Hatchling deceased, perhaps injured by a branch being moved in the nest
• May 23, 2016 - Unhatched egg removed from the nest by one of the adults
• June 1, 2016 - Cameras turned off for the season

2015 Season

Season Summary:
Clutch of two eggs, two hatches, two fledges

• February 14 - First egg laid
• February 17 - Second egg laid
• March 24 - First hatch
• March 25 - Second hatch
• June 22 - Both eaglets fledged

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