Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The eagles perch!

Hi All,
Today I had to make a site visit to due to the technical issues that we have been having. It was a very nice day, warm and windy, day near the nest site.

As for the issues that you have told me about. The system is working but we continue to have interruptions on occasion due to satellite signal and this very windy weather. Unfortunately, the audio will be off until we are able to purchase an unbudgeted new mic and replace the damaged one ... hopefully soon!
I will keep you posted as solutions move along.

We anticipate a hatch as early as May 6th...right around the corner so be sure to keep your eye on the nest!

Have a great day!

Best,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institute

48 comments:

  1. Patrick, I'm sorry but you say interruptions on occasion? Do you realize that your cam is buffering every 3 or 4 seconds?? There isn't a minute of steady stream. Even now at 5:19 pm est, it still is the same. We will miss the hatching if this steam continues.

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  2. Sure hope you can get the streaming issue resolved before the hatching. It would be a shame to miss out since we didn't have a hatching last year.

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  3. Cam and instant updates hasn't changed since 6:04 am est. Here it is now 7:47 am est. WE will definately miss the hatching...so very disappointing BRI. Please don't add anymore cams until you can correct the problem at MaineCam2. Thank you!

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  4. April 30 8:52 EST

    Patrick has it mixed up. We have video on occasion, interruptions are just about continuous. Why doesn't the windy weather affect Eaglecam1? Does it use the same satellite signal?

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  5. We are so lucky to have this at our fingertips, it's like a miracle to be able to watch it thousands of miles away. Obviously there are glitches, but no grief need be given. Give them a break at BRI. Beggars can't be choosere. They are working so hard to get these images to us. Thank you for the efforts, and thanks for updating the blog. This blog is far more informative than the "community cam."

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  6. Hopefully the blog will be updated more frequently regarding the hatching, as it is currently not possible to receive more than a few seconds, at best, of streaming video.

    I don't believe anyone, outside of the biologists monitoring the video feed, will witness the hatching.

    If the cam cannot be fixed, please, for all those who have sponsored and funded this research, post regular updates regarding the nesting activities.

    Thank you.

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  7. Judy - very well said!!

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  8. The live cam is not working. It comes on for about 2 or 3 seconds and then stops. I totally agree with Judy. We need info on a regular basis if we can't observe the hatching!
    thanks, Bev

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  9. 15 second updates - update every hour and cam is black or buffering and only viewing for 2 seconds at a time.

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  10. Please help...after the last couple nesting failures we were all looking forward to finally witness a successful hatching. But no matter when I try to connect, I get no more than 2 seconds of video before it freezes. I think I can speak for most in saying this is somewhat frustrating.

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  11. I don't mean to be a crab but I can't even get into this nest because of all the buffering and freezing. It is way too frustrating to watch. I read the forum and view the video's and scaps but that's as far as I can go. Sorry, I know that you mean well, BRI but these new cams just aren't working out and they're not worth watching.

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  12. BRI is doing a great job giving us what we are seeing, considering all the sites they are managing. It hasn't been all that long that we have had a live feed, or, to be able to observe these many sites. Please be patient, and enjoy the falcons and the finches.

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  13. Judy, not sure which cam you are speaking about but if it is the cam Maine Cam2, it hasn't worked properly for the entire month of April. Not one day of steady stream. I for one feel that there must be something that can be done and BRI should stop adding more cams to the list of active until this one is straightened out. Sorry but my patience has definately gone by the wayside and I'm sure the sponsors of this cam are feeling the same way. Companies and/or individuals like myself.

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  14. May 1 2:54 EST

    Nobody is on the eggs and I just see one. I can't tell if the other is covered by some nesting material. Nothing is working properly so it's impossible to tell how long they've been left unattended.

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  15. To Judy, April 30 entry, we agree, it's both disappointing and unfortunate that we may miss the hatching, after the last 2 unsuccessful nests. As frustrating as it seems, we may have to depend on updates here to follow what is happening.

    To Judy#2, May 1 entry, there has not been a steady video stream on EagleCam2 for quite some time. Perhaps you are referring to EagleCam1, the first cam set up back a few years, which still works fine, but there is no eagle activity at that nest. Right now, all the attention is on this nest site, and we hoped this cam would provide us with the unique opportunity to witness the hatching and raising of the chicks. Up to now, neither the video or audio have worked, and it appears they may not come time for the hatching. This is the reason for the disappointment felt by all those that have posted here.

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  16. What I meant by a "live feed" was this. It wasn't all that long ago that we were only watching a 15 sec. interval. I don't think the live feed has been on for more than a couple of yrs. I have been watching the 15 sec. interval just like everybody else, yes, it would be nice to have a live feed, but, I will take what I can get, until it can be fixed.Watching these birds in their own habitat is something very special.

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  17. What can be done to help? Everyone is complaining but what can we do to assist you? Do you need technical expertise?

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  18. 05/02 @ 10:15

    Sadly I must also report that whatever "fix" was attempted on 04/29 did not result in live stream. This morning I have had just seconds worth of intermittent live video and the still is at least 10-15 minutes behind.

    I can appreciate the hard work involved in maintaining the cams and appreciate the effort put forth by BRI. That said, I must also add that I agree that quality tops quantity.

    It seems that, right now, patience has been shortened as excitement mounts. We all want to see a successful hatch ... the operative word being "see."

    As we take advantage of the learning opportunity offered by BRI, I suppose we must accept that BRI is also involved in a learning experience beyond their area of expertise. Hopefully, they will decide that the cams with blogs are important tools for research, education, and public involvement in environmental issues and develop a workable plan to keep all running smoothly. They most certainly have my support in this effort.

    The important thing right now is a successful hatch and fledge for these eagles ... whether caught on video or not.

    Good luck, happy watching.

    JAM in IL

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  19. I figured it out...click on the live feed for eaglecam#2, it'll take about 18 seconds to load, then you'll get 2 seconds of live feed before it freezes,then, click your refresh button and wait another 18 seconds, get 2 seconds of live feed, repeat, repeat,repeat. After just an hour of this, you will have watched approximately 6 minutes of live video! See how easy this is!

    And if the eaglets hatch during one of your 2 second feeds, you're the winner!

    Enjoy!!

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  20. Jam in Il May 2, 2009 7:24 am

    ROFLOL Thanks for the smiles. I like your humor!

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  21. Live Cam will not come up at all May 2, 2009 2:33 pm est. Maine Cam2

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  22. MaineCam1 - 15 second updates aren't working.

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  23. I also was wondering about what could cause a poor video feed, no matter what the weather or time of day, and happened to find this BRI statement on the 'Kids In The Nest' website for this camera feed, they wrote, "This uses satellite internet so at times the connection may be slow, especially in poor weather or on nice days."

    Now we know.

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  24. But Lou, this quote you have "This uses satellite internet so at times the connection may be slow, especially in poor weather or on nice days." means that this would happen 24 hours a day because that is exactly what is happening on a daily basis. My personal opinion, it has to be more than the satellite. I wonder if BRI has a totally different view of this cam then we do and can't see that there is a major problem. The fix that Patrick did just recently didn't work even on the same day of the fix. We still only get 2 or 3 seconds of live cam.

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  25. 6:59 AM EST - WE HAVE A CHICK MaineCam2

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  26. Please, please, please fix the 15 second updates and the cam. Both have been stuck, stuck, stuck...It is an important time now for the eagles and us your contributors and viewers.

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  27. 8:18 am est - I may be wrong on the chick, others think so but it is so hard to tell...with stuck images and cam. Sorry if I posted wrong info.

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  28. May 3 9:21 EST

    Nothing is working at this time.

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  29. 05/03 @ 09:26

    Indeed, nothing is working. Live feed gives me a black screen; stills have not updated since approx. 08:00. Have tried refresh/reload, etc. to no avail.

    JAM in IL

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  30. 05/03 @ 11:54

    Updates working again (have not figured time spread) ... live video once again displays nest and occasionally updates.

    Have not seen eagle off nest to check for eggs/hatching.

    JAM in IL

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  31. 05/03 @ 12:08

    Eagle off nest ... still two eggs.

    JAM in IL

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  32. BRI - It has taken 10 minutes to try and watch an egg roll by parent Maine Cam 2. Would you believe that after 10 minutes of buffering, loading, two seconds of image and over and over...the cam stuck! Never did get to see Eagle nestled in. Please BRI fix this cam and the 15 second images. Both are stuck again and again!

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  33. To Anonymous post, May 3, 2:34, that was my point exactly...no matter what the weather, good or bad, BRI states that video feed will be poor. I also agree that they must have a separate feed which they are able to monitor, probably unaware of the problems which we experience.

    Don't give up.

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  34. puleeze get this cam working! I have emailed about 100 friends and family, and we are all excited about watching hatching/feedings/fledging!

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  35. Some have mentioned the video feed getting stuck, I think the eaglecam is operating fine, it just seems like it's not working because this particular eagle has learned to sit very, very still, for long periods of time, making you think the camera is frozen.

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  36. Sammy May 3, 2009 8:15 pm...watch your counter on WMP or RP...you are watching an eagle nestled in the nest, yes but you are not seeing any movement. You may have your WMP up but it isn't streaming. It only streams for 2 or 3 seconds and then it either buffers, turns black or gets stuck. Sorry but you aren't seeing a stream that is working.

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  37. Sammy..Most of us can tell the difference between a cam that is actually working or one that does not.
    The eagle may sit still for long periods of time...but the wind still blows, the sun still shines and here it definately doesn't show that!? Think about it. The live cam here is frozen 95% of the time..the refresh pictures are just as bad.
    And to the Judy that says she only watches the refresh cam on the site that has had a live cam up for two years...You're talking about the wrong nest (and the live cam has always worked pretty good). The cams to this nest were put up this year. New to us all....
    Very, very disappointing ...have watched many cams from all over..a lot satellite feeds and this is the worst.
    But it appears that if the right people are happy and not complaining.....our opinions do not matter.

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  38. May 4, 2007 8:54 EST

    Once again, nothing is working.
    Is there some other way we can contact the people who monitor this camera? I can't believe everyone is just ignoring this problem so maybe they're not aware now bad it is.

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  39. I wrote to Patrick Keenan last week and he replied back that he is working with the internet provider to fix the problem. However I don't hold much hope of getting this fixed. Perhaps it is a funding problem I don't get a sense of urgency to it.

    Judym

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  40. No, really, I think this eagle has been trained to sit very, very still...you know, like to elude predators or fool other eagles...

    (I'm feeling my humor is under-appreciated)

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  41. Sammy I loved your post...totally got the humor...totally got the post...Since this cam is not working properly why do you all still watch it. They have a great cam at Norfolk Va. with 3 beautiful 3week old babies...and the stream is working....

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  42. Must...continue...to...watch,
    unable...to...turn...away,
    cam...will...work...any...minute...now,
    eyes...getting...tired,
    feeling...weak,
    must...stay...awake..............................

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  43. Thanks Sammy! We need to lighten up a little here. Sorry some folks just don't get you. IWS has a couple of cameras that mostly work on two nests with eaglets and a very complete discussion forum with ongoing nest observations.
    google "institute for wildlife studies" and then select nest cam.
    They'll fix the cams eventually or hire it out..

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  44. Hey, there are 2 eggs in the nest, I've been watching them. Only thing is that they have been left alone for the longest time. Where are the parents???

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  45. so close to hatching,i hope they haven't abandoned the nest, everyone keep posting of you see anything

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  46. Whew...that was close. One of the eagles finally returned. That was quite a lengthy absence, hopefully all is OK.

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  47. What is everyone talking about,I can't see a thing?! What has to be done to make this work? I've looked at the other wildlife cams mentioned here and none of them have problems like this. Please fix the problem, these eggs will probably hatch any day now.

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  48. http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html

    these chicks hatched 3/25, and it's been a joy watching... no problems with live stream... ever

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