A bald eagle’s dedication to parenthood was caught on display in Hanover, Pennsylvania when a state park webcam caught the bird sheltering her eggs despite the snow piling on her back.
However, there’s no reason to worry. “You'll notice that she's covered with snow," said naturalist Jack Hubley to Lancaster Online. "What does that tell you? That tells you that there is not much heat loss from her body.” She is staying warm by eating in winter for energy and fluffing her feathers for insulation.
Bald eagles also form a brood patch—a bare spot on their tummy that helps them incubate the eggs by using the heat of their skin for warmth.
The images were captured on Thursday via an “Eagle Cam” operated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. They have also created some incredible time-lapse videos for your viewing pleasure.
To watch a livestream video of the bald eagle nest, click here.
A few more snowy images:
Credit: PA Game Commission
Credit: PA Game Commission
Credit: PA Game Commission
Bald Eagle in Hanover, PA
#live #baldeagle #ipvideo #livecams #hdontap @PAGameComm @hdontap
http://t.co/htksWFgTtz pic.twitter.com/FchLl5uvCC
— HDOnTap (@hdontap) March 5, 2015
Eagles manage cold by 1) Fluffing feathers for insulation 2) Eating food for energy & heat 3) Keeping eggs warms with their brooding patch.
— PA Game Commission (@PAGameComm) March 5, 2015
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