Camera Installation

Mitch Sivley, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay did a great job of camouflaging the cameras that were to be placed in the tree.

Mitch used Leyland Cypress leaves on the cameras because the pine needles that he first tried didn't quite work out like he wanted.

Close up of the camera after being painted.  The cameras are high definition stationary cameras that have an internal heating system to keep the lens from fogging over. 

Mitch and Steve Bloom, Equipment Technician for Bear Trace, soldered wires together on the ground so they would be stronger and just wire connectors.

Mitch applied heat shrink to the wire connections to protect them from moisture and to help insure a long life of filming eagles.

With the lowest live limb on the pine tree at about 60 feet up the tree it was rather interesting trying to get a line over the limb so Angelo could feel safe to climb.  After close to two hours of us trying to throw weighted bags, using a slingshot, and trying to cast a fishing line into the tree, Harrison Bay State Park Ranger David Hobbs came to the rescue with his bow and arrow and with some monofiliment line attached to it shot it up and over the branches.

Don Campbell, Harrison Bay State Park Manager saved the day on the camera installation by calling on one of his fellow State Park Rangers to help us out.  Angelo Giansante, Hiawassee State Park Ranger, a former US Army Ranger and certified arborist came down to Harrison Bay to install the cameras for us.  Here Angelo is starting his climb up the tree.

Angelo at the nest.  Every precaution was taken not to disturb any portion of the nest.  Angelo said that the view inside of the nest was one of the coolest things he has ever seen.  We all assumed that the nest would be deep on the inside but he said it was rather flat, just a small depression.

Self photo by Angelo while up in the tree.

Photo taken by Angelo looking down from the nest.

The above photo is a picture of the entire nest which measures about 8 feet across and is about 4 feet high.  The center is slightly depressed and is lined with pine needles and grasses.  Look closely at the right side of the photo to the right and you can see one of the turtle shells that were found in the nest.  Remains of a good dinner, I guess.

Angelo did a great job of installing and securing the cameras in the proper locations to give us the best views of the nest.  One camera(the one to his right) is positioned about 5 feet above the nest to give us an overhead view and the one he is in the process of installing is off to the side of the nest to give us a sideview.

It took Angelo two days to get both of the cameras installed and all of the wiring secured and insulated.  The feed back to the maintenance building is good and we have a computer expert coming Monday to get us up and running at http://www.harrisonbayeaglecam.org/