For wildlife enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and curious minds alike, the Eagle Webcam Live project offers an unprecedented front-row seat to the majestic lives of bald eagles. This innovative initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Outdoor Channel, and the Friends of the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC). Together, they’ve created a window into the wild, streaming the daily drama of an eagle nest straight to screens across the globe. But this project is more than just technology—it’s a story of dedication, conservation, and a passionate community that’s been soaring alongside it since day one.

A Nest with a View

Perched roughly 75 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., the eagle nest sits proudly on the sprawling campus of the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Tucked just a quarter-mile from the winding Potomac River, this serene location provides the perfect backdrop for these iconic birds of prey. The NCTC, a hub for training conservation professionals, isn’t just a workplace—it’s a sanctuary where nature and education intertwine. The eagle nest, carefully monitored by the webcam, has become a living classroom, offering real-time lessons in wildlife behavior and ecology.

The bald eagle, a symbol of strength and freedom in the United States, has made a remarkable recovery from the brink of extinction thanks to decades of conservation efforts. The Eagle Webcam Live project showcases this triumph, giving viewers a chance to witness the birds’ nesting habits, hunting prowess, and tender care for their young—all from the comfort of home.

A Partnership Rooted in Purpose

The success of this live stream hinges on a trio of organizations committed to wildlife and public engagement. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, tasked with protecting America’s natural heritage, brings its expertise in eagle conservation to the table. The Outdoor Channel, known for its outdoor programming, amplifies the project’s reach, connecting it with audiences eager to explore the wild. Meanwhile, the Friends of the NCTC, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the training center’s mission, provides vital resources and enthusiasm to keep the cameras rolling.

But the true heartbeat of the project lies in its community. Since its inception, eagle fans from across the country and around the world have rallied behind this endeavor. These dedicated viewers—some of whom have tuned in from the very beginning—offer more than just applause. Their support, whether through donations, spreading the word, or simply sharing their excitement online, has fueled the project’s growth and longevity. It’s a testament to the universal awe inspired by these magnificent birds and the power of technology to unite people in appreciation of nature.

Why It Matters

The Eagle Webcam Live isn’t just a spectacle—it’s a bridge between humanity and the wild. For those who might never trek to West Virginia or spot a bald eagle in flight, the live stream delivers an intimate glimpse into their world. From the first crack of an egg to the fledglings’ wobbly first flights, viewers become part of the eagles’ journey. It’s a reminder of the beauty worth protecting and the progress made in restoring a species once threatened by habitat loss and pesticides like DDT.

Beyond its emotional pull, the project serves a practical purpose. The footage captured by the webcam offers scientists and educators valuable insights into eagle behavior, supplementing conservation efforts with real-world data. It’s a blend of entertainment and science, proving that curiosity can coexist with meaningful impact.

Tuning In

Located in the picturesque hills of Shepherdstown, the eagle nest is a hidden gem just a short drive from the nation’s capital. Yet, thanks to the webcam, its reach is boundless. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a newcomer to the wonders of wildlife, the Eagle Webcam Live invites you to join its growing flock of fans. As the project continues to thrive, it stands as a shining example of how collaboration, technology, and passion can bring us closer to the natural world—one eagle at a time.

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That was a close one: This morning in northern Italy, a wolf swam for its life in a canal. Turns out, he was very lucky in the accident - firefighters fished him out of the water, which wasn't even easy, but they did a good job.

The intervention began shortly after 7 a.m. in Gaggiano, an agricultural municipality in the southeast of the Milan area, between Via Milano and Via Italia. Firefighters from the Milan detachment on Via Darwin and the SAF (Speleo-Alpine-Fluvial) river unit arrived at the scene. Veterinarians from the ATS in Magenta (Milan) arrived at 12:30 p.m. to take charge of the wolf rescued this morning from the waters of the Naviglio Grande canal.

As explained by the Milan firefighters, the animal is expected to be handed over to a CRAS (wildlife recovery center) in either Milan or Piacenza. While awaiting this support, the firefighters had no choice but to keep the wolf secured in a net on the raft used to retrieve it, for safety reasons. Nevertheless, the animal appeared docile and allowed itself to be petted by the firefighters, who tried to keep it calm.

"Naviglio" refers to a system of navigable canals in the Lombardy region of Italy, particularly associated with Milan. The term comes from the Italian word "naviglio," meaning "canal" or "waterway." These canals were originally constructed for irrigation, transportation, and to support trade and agriculture, dating back to the Middle Ages. The most famous ones in Milan are the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese, which are still visible today and are part of the city's historical and cultural landscape. In modern times, the Naviglio Grande, for example, is a popular area for tourism, dining, and nightlife.

Italian wolves, specifically the Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus), are a subspecies of the grey wolf native to the Italian Peninsula. They’ve adapted to a variety of habitats, from the forests and mountains of the Apennines to more open rural areas. Here’s a rundown of what makes them interesting:

Size: They’re generally smaller than other European grey wolves. Males typically weigh 24–40 kg (53–88 lbs), and females are a bit lighter, around 20–35 kg (44–77 lbs). Length-wise, they’re about 100–140 cm (39–55 inches) long, not counting the tail.

Appearance: Their fur is usually greyish with a mix of black and brown tones, though it can vary. In winter, it thickens up to handle the colder Apennine weather. Some have lighter, almost whitish coats, especially in certain regions.

Since the 1970s, thanks to legal protection and reforestation, their population has rebounded. They’re now found from the central-southern Apennines up to the western Alps, occasionally popping up near human settlements. Estimates suggest there are about 1,500–2,000 wolves in Italy today.

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A huge whale was caught on video breaching from the sea, and seemingly swallowing a kayaker in front of his shocked father.

Dell Simancas and his son Adrian were on a trekking and packrafting trip when they arrived in the Strait of Magellan of southern Chile. While they were bobbing around in the sea a humpback whale suddenly emerged from the water - and the video showed the massive mammal seeming to swallow Adrian whole.

Thankfully, he and his raft bobbed back to the surface after several seconds. Adrian’s dad calls out to him, repeatedly telling him to “relax” and “hold onto” his raft. He can be heard reassuring his son: “I’m coming.”

While clutching his overturned raft, Adrian grabs hold of his dad’s canoe and the pair make their way back to shore. Musician Adrian, 24, said: “I didn’t understand what was happening, I thought it had eaten me. It’s a tale that seems like fiction. I lived to tell it.”

Venezuelan anaesthesiologist Dell, 49, added: “I heard a loud sound and when I turned around, my son had already vanished. Fortunately, Adrian quickly returned to the surface and although he was in shock, he did not suffer any serious injuries.”

Last month Brits were left with awe when a humpback whale was spotted playing off the coast of the UK, as they jumped in and out of the sea. A crowd of people could not believe their eyes as they gathered at the seafront to watch the majestic mammal playing.

As they watched on, the beautiful whale - identified by many as a humpback owing to its large front flippers - breached several times as it swam past the coast of Hastings, East Sussex. It was caught on video by Kitty Dale. Several people commented on a video shared on Facebook .

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February’s full Snow Moon reaches peak illumination at 8:53 A.M. EST on Wednesday, February 12. It will be below the horizon at this time, so for the best view of this Moon, look for it starting the night before or later on Wednesday; it will drift above the horizon in the east around sunset and reach its highest point in the sky around midnight.

Why Is It Called the Snow Moon? The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not just to the full Moon itself.

The explanation behind February’s full Moon name is a fairly straightforward one: it’s known as the Snow Moon due to the typically heavy snowfall that occurs in February. On average, February is the United States’ snowiest month, according to data from the National Weather Service. In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver, who had visited with the Naudowessie (Dakota), wrote that the name used for this period was the Snow Moon, “because more snow commonly falls during this month than any other in the winter.”

The full moon phase occurs when the moon, Earth and the sun are in alignment, in that order. February’s full moon will occur when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit, known as the apogee, Klima said. The micromoon will also be dimmer than the moon typically looks by about 30%, according to EarthSky, allowing for slightly better visibility of nearby celestial objects, without the average luminous interference.

Native American tribes in the northeastern United States call February's full moon the "Snow Moon" because of the heavy snowfall this time of year, according to the Maine Farmer's Almanac.

Tribes across the United States have their own names for February's full moon, according to the Western Washington University Planetarium. The Arapaho in the Great Plains have the closest name to Snow Moon, which is "frost sparkling in the sun." Other tribes have names that are the opposite, like the Zuni Tribe in New Mexico who call it "onon u'la'ukwamme," which means "no snow in trails."

Some tribes named this full moon after animals. The Tlingit Tribe in the Pacific Northwest call it "s'eek dis" or "black bear moon." The Haida Tribe in Alaska call it "hlgit'un kungáay" or "goose moon."

February's full moon is also known as the "Full Hunger Moon" because food was scarce and hunting was difficult for ancient tribes during this month.

February Moon names from different cultures Ice (Celtic). Old Moon (Cree). Gray Moon (Pima). Wind Moon (Creek). Winter Moon (Taos). Nuts Moon (Natchez). Avunnivik Moon (Inuit). Geese Moon (Omaha). Bony Moon (Cherokee). Purification Moon (Hopi). Little bud Moon (Kiowa). Snow Moon (Neo-Pagan). Lateness Moon (Mohawk). Shoulder Moon (Wishram). Rabbit Moon (Potawatomi). Sucker Moon (Anishnaabe). Long Dry Moon (Assiniboine). Little Famine Moon (Choctaw). Storm Moon (Medieval English). Sparkling Frost Moon (Arapaho). Running Fish Moon (Winnebago). Coyote Frighten Moon (San Juan). Spruce Tips Moon (Passamaquoddy). Raccoon Moon, Trees Pop Moon (Sioux). Hunger Moon : Dark, Storm Moon : Full (Janic). Snow Moon, Hunger Moon, Trappers Moon (Algonquin).

Other moon names: Wolf Moon, Wild Moon, Quickening Moon, Solmonath Moon, Chaste Moon, Horning Moon, Red Moon, Big Winter Moon, Cleansing Moon.

VIDEO Arizona Full Moon Rising Time Lapse

The next full Moon will be Monday evening, Jan. 13, 2025, appearing opposite the Sun (in Earth-based longitude) at 5:27 p.m. EST. This will be Tuesday from the South Africa and Eastern European time zones eastward across the remainder of Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, etc., to the International Date Line in the mid-Pacific.

The Moon will appear full for about three days around this time, from Sunday evening (and possibly the last part of Sunday morning) into Wednesday morning. 

 On the night of the full Moon, for most of the continental USA as well as parts of Africa, Canada, and Mexico, the Moon will pass in front of the planet Mars.

Although experienced moon gazers know that the night of the full moon is not the best for observing the lunar surface (even with a good pair of binoculars), the sight of the full moon rising as an orb at dusk is a celestial view that's hard to beat.

Old Farmer's Almanac states that the name for January's full moon, the Wolf Moon arises due to the fact it was seen at times of the year when wolves could be howling outside villages as a result of hunger.

The Full Wolf Moon. Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Native American villages. This moon was also known as the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule. In some tribes it was called the Full Snow Moon, but most applied that name to the next moon.

January Moon Names: Man Moon (Taos). Joyful Moon (Hopi). Avunniviayuk (Inuit). Quite Moon (Celtic). Ice Moon (San Juan). Cold Moon (Cherokee). Ice Moon (Neo-Pagan). Flying Ant Moon(Apache). Big Cold Moon (Mohawk). Cooking Moon (Choctaw). Strong Cold Moon (Sioux). Little Winter Moon (Creek). Her Cold Moon (Wishram). Cold Meal Moon (Natchez). Moon After Yule (Cherokee). Wolf Moon (Medieval English). Strong Cold Moon (Cheyenne). Quiet : Dark, Wolf : Full (Janic). Great Spirit Moon (Anishnaabe). Whirling Wind Moon (Passamaquoddy).

Wolf Moon, Old Moon, Winter Moon, Yule Moon (Algonquin).

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