True confession time: I watch a number of shows on TV. I like to knit so I find things to watch while I’m knitting. However, I’ve stayed away from reality TV – it’s just too contrived, overdramatic, and full of well, less-than-stellar individuals.

Then I discovered the live web cam. Now before you start thinking I’m a peeping Tom or something, I’m watching nature (not humanity) at its best. Baby bald eagles to be exact: eaglets and their parents, feeding, spreading their wings, and learning to fly, self-feed and move to nearby branches before taking their first full flight.

It’s fascinating. Trust me. Watch for yourself:

Iowa nest

Minnesota nest

I’ve learned a lot about eagles and how amazing it is when one reaches adulthood. Because it’s reality, I’ve seen some sad moments too: an eaglet in Minnesota fell out of his nest and died, one set of parents didn’t feed their babies properly and one died, and one eaglet in yet another nest was killed by his siblings. Add to that the reality that 40% die on their first flight and you realize how fragile life is.

And because this is a marketing blog, you should know that there is advertising during the live web cam broadcasts. One of my favorite web cams is in Decorah, Iowa and I checked and there are two CUs in Decorah – they should be advertising on the eagle sites. I’m sure it’s not expensive and very often there are more than 15,000 of us watching these cute eaglets who are just getting ready to leave their nest for good.

I’ll be sad when that day comes. Guess I’ll have to go in search of a new reality.