Image via WikipediaRecently we have been observing the miracles of nature through a few webcams. One that we have been checking daily is the Decorah Eagles webcam in Decorah, Iowa. This webcam streams video of a pair of Bald Eagles and their three eaglets literally 24/7.During the day you can view the eagles in color but you can also watch them at night because of an infrared light which allows you to view the nest in black and white. The nestlings were hatched about three weeks ago and it is amazing to watch them grow and change daily. We have been able to watch the adults take turns sitting on the nest and caring for their young, feeding them tidbits of fish from a nearby stream.
The website hosting the livestream gives FAQS about the pair of eagles, who have raised several other broods of eaglets, and interesting information about the nest and its location eighty feet high in a huge tree. You can visit the eagles by clicking on this link, Decorah Eagles or simply view the embedded file below.
Free Videos by Ustream.TV
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But, despite the excitement over the eagles in Iowas, we have also been observing the wonders of nature in Africa. In social studies we are working on a unit about slavery and the dilemmas faced by West Africans soon after European explorers and conquerors began to establish trading posts on the Western coast of Africa. As part of this unit we have also learned about the wonderful and fascinating kingdoms of West Africa such as Mali, Songhai, and Ghana. We have collected many artifacts from present day West Africa thanks to friends who have lived there or visited.
Soon we will have classroom visits from two parents who lived in Africa while they served in the Peace Corps. One parent lived in Benin, the other, in Congo. We are looking forward to their visits and the information they will share with us.
Although these webcams are not located in the area we are currently studying, we have been observing wildlife at various watering holes in Africa. Again, the stream in live, 24/7, with color during the day and infrared (black and white) at night. These streams are a bit slower to load up and are harder to observe in the evenings, but they have been quite interesting and informative.
We have seen impala, zebras, elephants, and unusual birds as they have grazed, bathed, or taken water at these sites. The image on the left shows the tree adjacent to the waterhole with cameras and microphones attached. The image to the right indicates the actual waterhole with the shadow of the "camera tree" falling in the foreground. Africam can be reached by clicking on the link.
