Eagle Nest on Camera at Wildlife Refuge

Eagle watchers! There's good news. The eagle cam at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge south of Vian has two eagle eggs in focus in an eagle nest on the refuge. But it's not all good news, Monica Hill, administrative technician at the refuge, said Thursday. The bonded pair produced two eggs, one on Feb. 7 and a second egg on late Feb. 10 or early Feb. 11. Then, unfortunately, the male disappeared. The female remains and is doing her best, but she has to eat, and has had to leave the eggs for long periods of time. Hill said eagle watchers reported the female was gone about half an hour Wednesday, leaving the eggs vulnerable in cold weather conditions. "The issue is that no one seems to know where the male went. It's not a good sign. We're not sure what is going to happen, but we're keeping our fingers crossed," Hill said. For an unknown reason, the pair who set up family-raising at the nest last year abandoned it, leaving eagle family watchers with no local source. Hill explained the eggs hatch about 35 days after being laid, which will be March 14 and March 17-18. Those who keep track of the eagle nest did report a second eagle, possibly the male, was seen at the nest Wednesday evening. Hill said the nest is in a large tree in a field next to where the refuge's asphalt road turns into a dirt road. She said signs warn visitors to please keep their distance but that it's very easy to watch on the eagle cam. Go to http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Sequoyah and click on bald eagle cam to watch this developing story.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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