News

Alcoa's aluminum facility grants live eagle web cam

Scott Wagar

04/09/2013

For individuals who are looking for the opportunity to learn about bald eagles and their eaglets, the Alcoa’s aluminum facility has a live web cam of a bald eagle’s nest with two young eagles that is intriguing to watch.

“A pair of bald eagles joined the Alcoa Davenport community in Iowa in 2009. They built their seven-foot nest on our 400-acre facility in a tree near the Mississippi River. In the spring of 2010, they fledged a pair of eaglets and later that year we installed our first eagle cam. Employees and the community helped name the eagle pair Liberty and Justice. In April 2011, an online poll named the single eaglet they fledged that year “Freedom”. In 2012, they fledged three eaglets that were named Faith, Hope and Spirit by online voting,” stated Alcoa’s website. “During 2012, more than 12 million visitors from across the globe have tuned in to witness an American icon, the bald eagle, developing live within this unique eco-system. In the fall and winter the eagles use the nest to eat and prepare the nest for the next season.

“Eagles nesting in Iowa typically lay eggs in late February and the eggs hatch in late March. The eaglets grow quickly and are ready to fly “fledge” in late May or early June. Alcoa is proud that our unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability is helping conserve our precious natural resources,” the Alcoa’s website added.
With so many visitors to the Eagle cam, Alcoa’s web cam has become one of the Top 25 Most Interesting Webcams of 2012.

By going to Alcoa.com and clicking on its Environment link on the top of its page, then clicking on Bald Eagle Camera link, the website will take you directly to the live feed of two bald eagles and two eaglets.

Once at the cam site, click on the play icon and the feed will go live. By holding the mouse over the picture, another icon will come up allowing individuals to enlarge the live picture, which is the best way to observe the live feed.

While observing the live cam, individuals get the opportunity to see the eaglets interact with their parents and themselves, their eating habits, how they’re protected by the adults, their sleeping behaviors and so much more.

The webpage also has a blog about the eagles which is updated numerous times a week, a number of photos of the birds, a contest to name the two eaglets and the ability for individuals to Tweet about the birds.

The site also gives a variety of interesting facts about the eagles and their nest. Some of which include:

  •  Nest built in a cottonwood tree near the Mississippi River
  •  Nest is about 80-85 feet above the ground
  •  Adult Female is named Liberty and male is named Justice
  •  The adult eagles live there year round


Alcoa’s Davenport aluminum facility is one of the primary vanguards of manufacturing in the United States.

“The plant employs 2,200 people and is a focal point of the global aluminum industry, with 25 percent of revenues coming from exports,” Alcoa’s website stated. “Through continued modernization, including a $200 million investment over the past decade alone, Davenport has maintained its position as the world’s premier aerospace supply plant and is today the hub of Alcoa’s $3 billion aerospace business.

“Davenport has produced metal for every space vehicle in America’s program, contributing to the moon landing and the U.S. victory in the Space Race. The plant produces advanced products for all major aircraft, including Airbus’ A380,” stated the website, the world’s largest passenger plane, and Boeing’s 747-8 and 777. Davenport even helps keep the President moving, producing the wings for Air Force One.”

Alcoa has invented 95 percent of all aerospace alloys; on the leading edge of aluminum-lithium making its products lighter, safer and cost effective; armor products for U.S. military vehicles and play an important part in education and caring for the environment.