VINS Nest Cam Offers Up-Close Look at Bald Eagles

Vermont Institute of Natural Science installs cameras to livestream bald eagle nest activity.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 12:13pm

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The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) has installed cameras in a tree to livestream a mated pair of bald eagles nesting 100 feet above the institute's habitats. The cameras offer researchers and the public a rare opportunity to observe wild raptors up close as the eagles prepare to potentially welcome new eaglets this spring.

Why it matters

Observing the behavior of wild bald eagles through the VINS nest cam provides valuable insights that can inform the care of captive raptors at the institute. The livestream also allows the public to connect with and appreciate the natural world in an immersive way.

The details

VINS staff worked with arborists and tech crews over the winter to install two live cameras in the tree where the bald eagle pair nested last year. The cameras captured the mated pair, dubbed Windsor and Dewey, reuniting on Valentine's Day and beginning to prepare the nest for a potential new baby. However, the cameras have also recorded a young bald eagle trying to join the nest, which the adult female has been aggressively chasing away.

  • Last year, two bald eagles welcomed a baby 100 feet above the Vermont Institute of Natural Science.
  • On February 14th, the mated pair of bald eagles arrived at the nest and spent time together.
  • In the following week, the eagles began bringing sticks to the nest, preparing for a potential new baby.

The players

Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS)

A nonprofit organization that operates a nature center and wildlife rehabilitation facility in Quechee, Vermont, focused on environmental education and conservation.

Windsor and Dewey

The mated pair of bald eagles nesting 100 feet above the VINS habitats, whose activities are being livestreamed by the institute's new nest cameras.

Alden Smith

The executive director of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science.

Anna Morris

The Ambassador Programs Director at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science.

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What they’re saying

“We took the gamble over the course of the winter, mounting cameras out in there above their nest when they were not present.”

— Alden Smith, Executive Director

“February 14th was the first day that they both arrived at the nest and spent some time. Then they started bringing sticks the next week.”

— Alden Smith, Executive Director

“The female adult eagle is evidently not very happy about this, um, and has been kind of chasing him away, which is to be expected. Parents...Don't really want him hanging around if they're going to start raising other young.”

— Anna Morris, Ambassador Programs Director

What’s next

If the conditions are right, the bald eagles could welcome up to three eaglets this spring, which the VINS nest cam will continue to livestream.

The takeaway

The VINS nest cam provides a rare, up-close window into the lives of wild bald eagles, offering valuable insights for researchers and an immersive connection to nature for the public. This innovative use of technology helps advance environmental education and conservation efforts.