Two baby eagles have hatched in the last two days at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown. Eagle aficionados were able to view the hatching live thanks to one of the nation’s oldest wildlife cameras.

The NCTC Eagle Cam is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year having been originally installed for the 2006 nesting season, when the first pair of bald eagles settled in a large sycamore tree overlooking a scenic stretch of the Potomac River. Since then more than 15 eaglets have hatched in the nest.

Over the last decade the technology and parent eagles have changed, but nest and the view from the camera have remained stunning. The original camera was solar powered and had no audio capability. The current eagle cam has both audio and night vision and broadcasts stunning images in HD quality, allowing eagle voyeurs from around the globe to tune into the avian family any time of day and share in their interactions and conversation.

The Eagle Cam has been especially popular in local schools where the eagles teach youths about endangered species, food chains and non-deleterious human interactions with nature.

The NCTC Eagle Cam was the result of a partnership between the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Outdoor Channel, the Friends of the National Conservation Training Center and the Town of Shepherdstown. In the last decade “critter cams” have become increasingly popular and anyone with an internet connection can view ospreys, puffins and other wildlife on various National Wildlife Refuge System cameras. To see the NCTC eagles and their new babies live visit: outdoorchannel.com/eaglecam/.

The National Conservation Training Center is the home of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a leader in environmental sustainability. The center provides exemplary training tailored to support Service employees and conservation partners in the accomplishment of the agency’s mission.