[/av_textblock] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” custom_class=”] NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Lights, Cameras, ACTION! Celebrity Bald Eagles ‘Independence’ and ‘Franklin’ will continue starring in their live reality TV show for another season from inside their newly refurbished nest located inside Eagle Mountain Sanctuary at Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains—but it’s not exactly an edition of Extreme Home Makeover.
Tens of thousands of viewers have already been faithfully and intently watching the birds via an Eagle Nest Cam over the Internet and are very touched by their heart-breaking story and spirited fight to overcome life’s obstacles.
Dedicated eagle fans from all walks of life are intrigued by the amazing loyalty and dedication of these special parent birds, and the fascinating natural intimacy of their daily lives, including the much anticipated late March arrival of 3 eggs. The pair has been diligently incubating and shielding these eggs from inclement weather with the cameras rolling 24/7. They are scheduled to hatch in early May after an approximate 35-day incubation period. Watch YouTube Video.
“Eagle nest watching has become an on-line obsession for millions of people who are intently interested in the rare opportunity to peer into the otherwise private lives of an All-American eagle family and to experience first-hand the success story about the hard-fought survival of their species,” says American Eagle Foundation (AEF) Founder and President Al Cecere, who has dedicated the past 29 years to saving and protecting the iconic birds.
This year, the producers of this Eagle TV show, the non-profit AEF (www.eagles.org), will offer their world-wide viewers simultaneous “live streaming” video images from four (4) different camera angles – to give dedicated viewers a true bird’s-eye view, and to ensure that none of the action will be missed.
“Our fans have stayed tuned day and night to see the eagles weather hail storms and tornadoes, which is real intense drama in itself. These birds have a strong innate behavior to protect their eggs and young through thick and thin, and they do not easily surrender that duty. This is extremely impressive and inspiring to witness up-close,” says Cecere.
All four cameras have infrared night vision to ensure viewing access 24 hours per day, and one camera even has pan, tilt, and zoom capability to capture close-ups of all the intimate details, including mating, nest decorating, egg hatching, and feeding activities. There is also a chat room at the nest cam website where volunteer moderators answer questions about eagles from viewers.
This majestic eagle pair is in their 11th year of captive breeding at Dollywood. They pair-bonded in 2002, and have already produced 27 eggs and 24 eaglets, most of which have been released into the wilds of East Tennessee.
“We invite anyone who loves animals, birds, nature, and America to drop by our website or our USTREAM channel to watch and enjoy the daily life of these wonderful birds,” Cecere said. “Especially schools across the nation that desire to provide an educational experience for their classrooms.”
Both parent birds are classified as “non-releasable” by federal and state wildlife agencies – since they suffered permanent injuries and disabilities to their left wings due to gunshot wounds when they lived in Alaska. Since being relocated to Tennessee, the birds have lived inside a large naturally landscaped and netted bald eagle aviary at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, which is where the AEF has been headquartered for the past 22 years.
The AEF daily cares for a collection of about 80 birds of prey, including about 40 Bald Eagles and 5 Golden Eagles – all of which can longer survive in the wild either due to “human imprinting” or permanent disabilities. The organization rehabilitates injured and orphaned birds of prey to potentially return to the wild, and educates the public about the continuing need for their future population recovery and protection. The conservation group currently has 4 pairs of eagles sitting on eggs.
“In the near future, we’ll be open to suggestions from our viewers regarding possible names for the chicks that will hopefully soon hatch and eventually be released into the wild when they attain full-size at 13-weeks of age. One or more of the young will be released in honor of fallen US soldiers.”
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