Delaware Botanic Gardens to install eagle cam in September

For several years at Delaware Botanic Gardens, eagles have nested in a beautiful loblolly pine tree overlooking Pepper Creek. This past spring, two eaglets were tended to by both the female and male eagles and were soon fledglings flying high above the gardens.

“Visitors were thrilled to watch them from afar. Next year, we will have installed an eagle cam so that we can see what is happening in the nest. Our work is with HDOnTap, the same company that installed the eagle cam at Big Bear Valley in California,” said Sheryl Swed, DBG executive director. “The idea of an eagle cam has been very popular with our staff, volunteers and visitors, and when we decided to raise funds for the camera, we had an amazingly positive response. We have raised over $80,000 for the cost of design, equipment including two cameras, installation, livestreaming and maintenance.”

DBG President Raymond Sander announced the major sponsors of the eagle cam project are the Drs. Rouben & Violet Jiji Foundation, along with Phoebe Craven, and Mike and Sue Masciandaro. In addition to these generous donors, many individuals sent gifts to support the DBG project.

Richard Hoffman, Jiji Foundation representative, said, “The Rouben & Violet Jiji Foundation is proud to partner with the Delaware Botanic Gardens and sponsor the eagle cam and the eagle watch viewing garden.”

Donor Mike Masciandaro said, “We hope that this additional visibility will inspire the younger generations to learn and participate in the wonders of nature.”

Sander said, “We are most grateful to our magnanimous donors who also inspire us.”

Leading the effort will be Stephen Pryce Lea, DBG deputy executive director. “Our contract calls for installation of two cameras, and reinforcing and strengthening the nest; [work] is scheduled for two days in late September when the eagles are gone,” he said.

For more information, go to delawaregardens.org.