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Welcome to the John Bunker Sands Eagle Tower Cam

Photo Gallery - 2014 Nest Relocation Project

 
  
  
 
Since July, 2014, the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center has provided live video from an eagle's nest near their headquarters in Seagoville, Texas. However, the story doesn't begin in 2014. Events started in 2011 when a pair of eagles were observed building a nest in an active high-voltage transmission tower owned by Oncor Power Delivery Company.
 
Out of concern for the safety of the eagles, plans were established to relocate the nest away from the high voltage wires, but still near enough the birds could find it again the following nesting season. With that, plans were initiated for relocating the eagle nest to Wetland property.
 
The nest was successfully moved on July 12 & 13, 2014. This was no easy feat. Oncor arranged to detour the 345,000 volts around the towers so work could be performed safely. The tower arm in which the nest was built was removed from the original tower, lowered to a flatbed trailer, and transported to a new tower custom made just for the eagles. The arm was was attached to the new and higher tower, providing a safe nesting area for the eagles.
 
The photos below show the work performed by Oncor, Falcon Steel, and the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center to successfully move the nest. Photos are organized in sequence from the beginning to the end of the move. To navigate, click the left and right arrows at the sides of any image, or the dots below the images.
 
1 / 14
Original nest site in the high voltage tower.
High voltage has been turned off and wires removed from the arm.
2 / 14
Oncor employees attaching crane cables to the arm.
Sheet steel already installed under the nest for support.
3 / 14
Bubble wrap installed around the nest to protect it during the move.
Note: It took TWO cranes with one man in each bucket plus two men in the tower arm to accomplish this task!
4 / 14
Nest is completely secured in bubble wrap, and arm unbolted from the tower.
Next step: Lower the arm and nest to the ground - very slowly.
5 / 14
Arm with the nest is completely detached from the tower. THREE cranes were needed!
Two for personnel, one for holding the tower arm.
6 / 14
Arm with the eagle nest awaiting the flatbed truck.
New arm is on the ground. "Eagle deterrent" rods are present in the new arm.
7 / 14
Arm with the eagle nest is secured to the flatbed trrailer.
Though the arm is only 40 feet long, six straps were used to hold the arm securely to the trailer.
8 / 14
A peek under the bubble wrap. Plants often grow in an eagle nest during the off season.
They sprout from seeds brought up with nesting material. (Picture taken July, 2014.)
9 / 14
Arm with the nest inside arrives at the new tower.
A smaller arm (background, near the trees) will be attached at the top first. The "nest arm" will be below the small arm.
10 / 14
Placard made by Falcon Steel, the company that manufactured and donated the new eagle tower.
The new tower is identical to the tower where the nest was originally built, including orientation.
11 / 14
Arm with the eagle nest being raised into position at the new tower.
A smaller arm has already been installed above the "nest" arm.
12 / 14
"Nest " arm being bolted to the new tower. Note again - THREE cranes!
The bubble wrap was pre-cut before raising for easy removal.
13 / 14
"Nest " arm solidly bolted to the new tower. Straps being removed.
Final step: Remove the bubble wrap - very carefully.
14 / 14
Success! The eagle nest is intact at the new tower!
Sheet steel installed to support the nest is clearly visible under the nest.

 
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