CEDAR COUNTY, Neb. (KTIV) — A new camera installed along the Missouri River is offering a live view into the life of a bald eagle family.
The camera, positioned 75 feet up in a cottonwood tree, streams footage of two adult eagles and their two eaglets 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The eaglets hatched on March 30, 2026 and April 7 2026.(Missouri River Wildlife Cam)
The adult eagles, named Skye and Mo, have nested in the tree for several years. They leave each winter and return in the spring.
The project is a collaboration between a Cedar County, Nebraska, farmer and Quality Telecommunications, a Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based company that typically specializes in security cameras.
“We got a call one day, and it was this local farmer that wanted to do this project,” said Jordan Wheeler, account manager with Quality Telecommunications. “He’s got an eagle nest, some eagles that are always there. So we got to talking, came out here, see if it was even possible.”
The nest is 75 feet up in a Cottonwood tree.(KTIV)
The farmer, who wants to remain anonymous, decided to add a camera while the eagles were gone this year. That’s where Quality Telecommunications comes in.
Installation took months
“Something that we weren’t quite sure was in our scope. That’s why we came down, got the lay of the land, and said, ‘Hey, everything is possible, so why can’t we do it?’” Wheeler said.
The installation was done in phases over three couple of months.(KTIV)
The installation was done in phases over a couple of months. The farmer trenched more than 2,000 feet of fiber wire to support the live stream.
The company had to rent a large lift to reach the nest, which is about 75 feet in the air.
“It’s always windy. So the lift goes up and it’s swaying back and forth,” Wheeler said. “So it actually took us a handful of trips to come out here and finish the project.”
Livestream goes live
After months of planning and installation, the stream went live in January 2026.
The stream is free to watch all day, every day, in real time. With the ability to rewind up to twelve hours.
The stream features two camera shots, one right above the nest and one ultra-wide-angle shot of the nest. There is also a microphone on the cameras, so viewers can hear the eagles.
There is also a real-time live chat. Four employees at Quality Telecommunications are moderators, so they guide the discussions, enforce community rules, and maintain a respectful, safe environment on the livestream.
Community response
Wheeler said the response has been positive. He has visited over 30 classrooms around Sioux Falls, and now students are logging in daily to watch the eagles.
“It just feels good having something out there that is educational, that is positive, that just reminds you of the great place that we live in and all of the wonderful things around us, including all the animals,” he said.
Missouri River Wildlife Cam launched the eagle cam in January 2026.(Missouri River Wildlife Cam)
In less than three months, their live stream has gained over 1,700 subscribers.
“It’s just crazy to think that this is going to happen every year. We get to watch this every year, and it’s always going to be different. It’s always going to be a different story,” Wheeler said.
The two eaglets do not have names yet. If you’d like to submit your suggest a name, suggestions are being taken here.,
Quality Telecommunications is currently installing beaver cameras, expected to feature three cameras, two of which will be underwater. The company plans to complete that project by the end of May. For updates on that project, you can keep an eye out for their YouTube Channel.
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