Welcome to the John Bunker Sands Eagle Tower Cam
Camera & Solar Equipment Technical Information
Video cameras at eagle nests and other wildlife sites around America and internationally provide learning opportunities for millions of people.
There's an aspect to the background for every camera system that frequently goes unnoticed. Very simply, "How did these systems get installed, and what makes them work?" We've answered the first question on the "Gallery" pages on this website. The original installation in 2014, and the most recent upgrades to the system in 2020 can be found by hovering your cursor over the "Gallery" link in the menu bar at the top, and selecting the information you'd like to view.
This page answers the second question by providing behind-the-scenes information about the equipment that makes the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center Eagle Tower Cam system possible.
The system description starts with the cameras at the top of the "Eagle Tower", and ends with the solar equipment at the bottom of the tower. The most obvious items of hardware are the cameras, followed closely by the microphone near the nest. The Wetland Center Eagle Tower Cam is more than a mile from commercial electrical lines. For that reason, all of the Eagle Tower equipment (including the microwave communication) is powered exclusively by solar energy. System electronics are housed inside a weatherproof enclosure mounted six feet above the ground on a very sturdy metal frame that also supports the solar panels.
| Hardware Item | Description |
|---|---|
 | Cameras are the heart of any wildlife video system, and John Bunker Sands Wetland Center executives selected the best. As is common for non-profit organizations, decisions are governed by the budget. The options: Install two lower quality cameras for two different views, or a high quality model and one view. The latter was chosen. The cameras are housed inside a weatherproof dark plastic dome. The eagles can't hear them or see them move. See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about the cameras. Camera #1 is attached directly to the tower approximately 10 feet from and slightly higher than the nest. A mounting bracket for camera #1 was fabricated on site from sheet metal on hand when camera #1 was installed. As a result, "Cam 1" is affected by wind at times, causing the video to appear to "wobble". This is Cam 1 moving, not the tower. Plans are underway to install a much stronger bracket after the eagles leave the nest for the summer. See photos 12 & 13 on our 2020 System Installation Page to see camera #1 location on the tower. JBS Wetland Center Nest Camera #1 Specifications: Make/Model: Axis Q6075-E Resolution: 1080p Pan (rotate): Yes. 360° continuous Tilt: Yes Zoom: Yes (30X) Infrared: Yes Camera #2 was installed on August 9, 2025. It’s mounted at the end of the upper arm on the tower where the previous "Camera #1" was formerly installed. Cam 2 gives a reverse-angle view of the nest from behind the support bars that are often in the way of Cam 1. See photo 11 on our 2020 System Installation Page to see Camera #2 location on the tower. JBS Wetland Center Nest Camera #2 Specifications: Make/Model: Axis Q6078-E Resolution: 3840x2160 4K (2160p) Pan (rotate): Yes. 360° continuous Tilt: Yes Zoom: Yes (12X optical, 20X digital, 240X overall) Infrared: Yes |
 | Microphones add a new dimension to wildlife cam systems. A weatherproof microphone was added to the JBS Eagle Tower Cam system in 2020. You can hear the eagles communicate with each other, or warn off intruders. In calm weather, coyotes, owls, wild pigs, and other animals are audible. When it's windy, mic audio may sound like a hurricane. To the eagles, it's just another breezy day. The sensitivity is set high to allow hearing the faint sounds of eaglets when they hatch. Photo 13 on our 2020 System Installation Page shows where the microphone is mounted relative to the nest. A foam windscreen was installed on the microphone on August 9, 2025 to reduce the wind noise, but does not decrease the audio sensitivity. |
 | Photovoltaic modules (commonly called "solar panels") convert sunlight into electricity. Solar panels are requred at the JBS Eagle Tower Cam because the tower is a long distance from utility power. Each solar panel at the JBS Eagle Tower is rated to produce 280 watts. These solar panels are made from tempered glass, and are resistant to damage from hail. |
 | Two or more solar panels connected together are called an "array". The array at the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center Eagle Tower Cam is comprised of six solar panels as illustrated here. The Wetland Center Eagle Tower Cam system consumes electricity 24 hours a day. Having six solar panels helps ensure the batteries are as fully charged as possible at all times, even during cloudy weather. Photo 5 on our 2020 System Installation Page shows the solar panel array. The array is also visible at the base of the tower on Eagle Tower camera #2 when the camera is pointed at the nest. |
 | A charge controller ensures optimal operation of the solar panels and prevents the batteries from being over-charged. This charge controller is made in America by "Midnite Solar" (near Seattle), and has a long history of very high reliability in the solar industry. This charge controller reports the performance of the solar panels, the charge status and temperature of the batteries, and other important details about the electrical equipment. Data is sent via microwave radio link to Wetland Headquarters with the video and audio signals, and is monitored remotely over the Internet. |
 | Batteries in the Wetland Center Eagle Tower Cam solar system are designed for very deep discharges without damage. For perspective, a typical car battery weighs 60-75 lbs (27.2-34 kg) and in this system would be worn out in six months. Batteries in the Eagle Tower Cam system (made in the USA by Enersys) weigh 155 lbs (70.3 kg) each and are expected to work for up to 8 years before requiring replacement. Three batteries are used in this system, and have a combined weight of 465 lbs (211 kg)! Battery Specifications: Chemistry: Lead-carbon Ratings: 12 Volts, 200Ah @ 24 hour discharge rate Type: Sealed. Maintenance free. Safety: Conforms to UL Safety Standards Life Expectancy: Up to 8 years Charging Efficiency: 98% |
 | The "inverter" in the Wetland Center Eagle Tower Cam system changes direct current into 120 volt alternating current identical to what we get from outlets in our houses. Many of the electronics in the cam system required 120 volts AC. Rather than use a separate power source for each piece, it was simpler and more reliable to use a small inverter to provide 120 volts AC for everything. This inverter is made by Exeltech in Fort Worth Texas. It provides true sine wave electricity, with absolutely no interference to the sensitive camera and audio electronics. |
 | All of the electrical and electronic hardware is installed in a ventilated weatherproof aluminum enclosure custom manufactured by Ameresco (near Houston, TX) specifically for this project. Screening at the vents prevents intrusion by insects and critters. The electronics enclosure is mounted out of the sun behind the solar panels to help keep everything cool. In turn, the solar panels and enclosure are on an elevated rack high enough to protect the panels and electronics from feral hogs, cattle, and other animals. |
 | Data from the Eagle Tower Cam system is sent via microwave radio link from the eagle tower to JBS Wetland Center headquarters. At the same time, the Wetland Center staff can send pan (rotate), tilt, and zoom commands to the cameras over the same link. |
