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Pacific Loon Web Camera Shows Off Rare Birds

June 10, 2011|By Jason Lamb | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — South of Stevens International Airport, you'll find a web project that's getting international attention.

As Anchorage Audubon member Jean Tam leads you toward it, you can't blame her for being distracted, as all sorts of birds circle around.

But the main attraction is the loons out on Conners Lake.

"The loons are very terretorial, and they will drive out any other birds normally," said Tam.

Making a nest on an artificial island, the loons have learned to adapt to many unnatural experiences.

"Every couple of minutes there'd be jet roaring over," Tam said.

Even with all the commotion, the female loon keeps coming back.

"Every summer since 2003 she's been coming and resting on that island," Tam said.

And that got Jean thinking.

"After seeing the loons nesting on the island for several years in a row, I thought, wouldn't it be great to have a camera on there?" Tam said.

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Since 2003, with the help of some grant money and camera equipment, Jean's been hosting a loon cam.

"I've got one computer to control the cameras, and another computer does the streaming ," Tam said.

Pacific loons can only be found in northern climates this time of year, but with 1,000 feet of cable from conners lake to Jean's house, the pacific loon's habitat has turned global, especially now, as this year's long egg in the nest is about to hatch.

You can view the live feed of the loon cam by clicking HERE.

"They mate, they make their nest, they lay the eggs, you see all that, you see the eggs hatch, it's pretty neat, at least I think it is," said Tam.

This year's egg is expected to hatch on June 14.
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