Thursday, June 25, 2009

Response to funding question.

Hi All,

I feel the need to respond to this comment as I do not want any misconceptions about our fundraising efforts. My words are bold in response to a comment posted by anonymous.

Can someone from BRI explain to me how it costs $65,000 for a web cam?

We operate between six and eight webcams per year. Costs include the camera, internet to the site, a variety of connectors/adaptors/splitters, microphone and pre-amp when possible, computer for each installation. Other costs include occasional travel to the site for maintenance and repair. Not to mention internet streaming which can be very costly (a few thousand dollars a week at peak times) which we have had donated in the past.

Also, your site has this blurb: The Eagle Web cam is presented by BioDiversity Research Institute and made possible through the generous support of FPL Energy Maine Hydro, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

These organizations support us in various ways. FPL provides installation expertise and has offered the use of property in the past and some funding to cover internet costs and equipment for one of our cams, Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are collaborators and provided a wonderful Eagle BioJournal in collaboration with US Fish and Wildlife. Also, they support our project by helping direct us to potential nests. To be clear, they do not provide us with funding support.

I'm probably naive, but if I had a bird nesting in my yard and wanted to put it on a web cam... say, $2500 for a verrrry good camera, a few hundred for cable, but in today's wireless world, not sure that's even necessary; someone to install it..say another $5,000 if you want to get real fancy...and maintenance. Just call the geek squad.

So, you are not so naive, add $1200 year for internet to your estimates (which do not include the items I detailed above), totals $8700 per system times seven systems well...$60,900. That is where these numbers come from. We also have to have maintain the systems and update blogs this requires staff time.

Seriously, where do you get these kinds of numbers you throw around?

We have a budget for this program this budget is reported in each grant proposal that we write, we do not throw numbers around. In addition to our webcams we made over 25 presentations to classrooms in Maine and NH about wildlife and science as well as several talks to community groups. Staff time and travel is not included in our $65,000 estimate. We feel that webcams and presentations about the research that we do are invaluable educational tools that everyone should understand come at a cost and we hope to be able to continue these programs in the future.

I hope this clarifies your questions/comments. Many thanks for enjoying the webcams. Let's get back to discussing the eagles!

All the Best,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institute

Rain, Rain, Rain

Hello All,

What a time these birds are having staying dry! Here in Maine we have had about 15 of 18 days of overcast and rain. This has caused water level fluctuations and in some cases flooding. All this time these eagles have been growing and learning to move about their nest. We should continue to see increased activity in the coming weeks as the eglets begin to explore their nest further.

I posted two video clips on Monday and hope to post some video from my Tuesday visit to the site tomorrow. Please view these at http://www.briloon.org/watching-wildlife/video.php and enjoy!

Many thanks for all your support. Have a great day!

Best,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institute

Monday, June 15, 2009

Eagles and rain.

Hi All,
I so happy about the success and growth of these two eagles. I visited the site on Friday and captured some video to post this evening as a video blog. The chicks are becoming more mobile in the nest and continue to eat well. This last ten days of rain may have dampened their spirits but they are old enough to generate their own heat and now have some good downy insulation and 'contour' feathers that help to shed/reflect water from their backs. We'll have to keep better up to date on these posts. Very sorry for the lag. Please join us at our online community as well...www.briloon.ning.com for more dialogue about these eagles.

All the Best,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institute