BEPR confirm new live webcam in 2022

On Friday, November 19 Black Eagle Project Roodekrans (BEPR) photographer Ernest Porter made the announcement that they have teamed up with Africam to have a new webcam installed.

Ernest confirmed to the Northsider that the installation of the new live camera is planned for mid-December. From the coming breeding season onwards black eagle followers will be able to watch live from their homes what is going on in the nest.

“We used Africam to set up a web camera on the nest in the past, and since the new female arrived in 2016, we haven’t had a camera as she decided to build a new nest.

“Africam emailed me in October to let me know that they have a potential sponsor to set up a new web camera and asked if we were interested to go ahead.

“The camera has been a great success in the past, so we definitely said yes. Africam since did a site inspection and they are busy planning the logistics of the whole operation.

“We told them that we only have a two-month window from mid-December to do an installation like this after the juvenile has fledged,” said Ernest.

According to BEPR photographer and observer Johan van den Berg, since Makatsa arrived in 2016, she decided to build a new nest, far away from the webcam they had at that stage.

“We are very excited because if all goes well, we will once again have a web cam, and will be able to monitor the eagles at all times.

“Modern technology will enable us not only to focus on the nest, but also to zoom in on other activities around the nest,” explained Johan.

Recently BEPR were concerned as they hadn’t seen the juvenile Amari for a few days, but were relieved to see her perched in a tree just below Makatsa and Mahlori.

BEPR revealed to the Northsider that the time to leave the nesting area was creeping up upon Amari, and they were expecting her to “depart” within the next three weeks.

“We are looking forward to being able to share our sightings with international supporters again,” said BEPR Chairman Gerald Draper.