Bald Eagles Caught On Webcam Protecting Eggs From Snow
Published at(HANOVER, Pa.) — The dedication of parenthood was proven yet again on Thursday, as two bald eagles were spotted on a webcam in a Pennsylvania state park sheltering their eggs from the snow.
The birds were captured on a webcam at Codorus State Park set up by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
As several inches of snow continued to pile up in the birds’ nest, one of the eagles placed its body over the eggs, even as the snow covered everything but the bird’s head.
Naturalist Jack Hubley told LancasterOnline.com that the layers of the bird’s feathers help to provide insulation to the bird and eggs tucked underneath.
“You’ll notice that she’s covered with snow,” Hubley said. “What does that tell you? That tells you that there is not much heat loss from her body.”
The Pennsylvania Game Commission tweeted on Thursday that the eagles stay warm through winter by eating and fluffing their feathers for insulation.
Their eggs are kept warm underneath a “brooding patch.”
Eagles manage cold by 1) Fluffing feathers for insulation 2) Eating food for energy & heat 3) Keeping eggs warms with their brooding patch.
— PA Game Commission (@PAGameComm) March 5, 2015
As Spring continues to draw closer, eyes will once again be trained on the webcam as those eggs get ready to hatch.
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