Watch America’s Majestic Birds
Dale Hollow Eagle Cam
The Dale Hollow Eagle Cam gives viewers a live look at a bald eagle nest along the shoreline of Dale Hollow Lake. The livestream is available around the clock and allows people to follow nesting activity, egg-laying, hatching and fledging in real time. Over the years, the Eagle Cam has grown into a widely followed educational resource for wildlife enthusiasts, classrooms and families who return often to see what is happening at the nest.
Tom Allen, vice president and general manager of Sunset Marina and Resort, Inc., said the idea for the eagle web cam originated during a lake-wide meeting in 2014.
“All entities share a common goal to provide education about the majestic American Bald Eagle to the general public, ” Allen said. “This high definition camera brings the habitat of the American Bald Eagle into the living rooms, computers and mobile devices of everyone around the country.”
A Project Built Through Leadership and Partnerships
The idea for the Eagle Cam grew out of a shared goal to educate the public about bald eagles and their habitat at Dale Hollow Lake. Tom Allen has long been an important part of that effort and remains proud of the leadership that helped bring the project to life, while also giving credit to the many organizations, volunteers and supporters who made it possible. The Eagle Cam was established in 2016 through the cooperative efforts of the Dale Hollow Lake Marina Association, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Twin Lakes TV and other partners and contributors.
How Bald Eagles Returned to Dale Hollow Lake
The Eagle Cam is rooted in a larger conservation success story. Between 1987 and 1991, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District conducted an Eagle Restoration Program at Dale Hollow Lake and released 44 bald eagles in an effort to restore nesting populations in Tennessee and Kentucky. Young birds were cared for and released using a method known as hacking, with the hope that they would later return to the region where they first took flight.
Bringing the Nest to the Public
When the project moved forward, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the needed easement and ensured the installation followed wildlife guidelines. Twin Lakes TV installed the high-definition camera during an inactive period so the nest would not be disturbed and also made the feed available to its subscribers. From the beginning, the goal was to bring the habitat of the American bald eagle into living rooms, classrooms, computers and mobile devices across the region and beyond.
Watch Live and Learn More
The Dale Hollow Eagle Cam offers a rare opportunity to watch bald eagles in real time without disturbing the nest. Whether you are visiting Dale Hollow Lake in person or following the livestream from home, the project continues to highlight the beauty of the area and the importance of protecting wildlife habitat for future generations.
Despite its symbolic significance, America’s majestic national bird has faced a real-life threat of extinction. In the late 1800s, the country was home to 100,000 nesting bald eagles, but the number of birds soon dwindled due to habitat destruction and hunting. In 1940, Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act, making it illegal to possess, kill or sell the birds. A new threat arose when they began eating prey contaminated with DDT, a pesticide that came into wide use following World War II. In the 1960s, there were only around 400 breeding pairs left in the continental U.S., and in 1978 the bald eagle was put on the endangered species list. Thanks to federal protections as well as regulations involving DDT, in 1995 the bald eagle population had recovered enough for the bird’s status to be changed from endangered to threatened, and in 2007 it was removed completely from the list.
One of Tom Allen’s earliest eagle photographs, taken on Sept. 10, 2010, across from Sunset Marina on Dale Hollow Lake.
Why Bald Eagle Restoration Mattered
Bald eagles once declined dramatically in the continental United States because of habitat destruction, shooting and the widespread use of DDT, which caused reproductive failure by thinning eggshells. The species was listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1978. After DDT was banned and long-term conservation efforts took hold, bald eagle numbers steadily recovered. In 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service formally removed the bald eagle from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife in the lower 48 states.
Bald Eagles in Tennessee Today
Tennessee’s bald eagle recovery has been equally remarkable. TWRA says restoration efforts coordinated in the state began in 1980 and continued until 2003, and Dale Hollow Lake remains one of the best places in Tennessee to observe bald eagles. Today, bald eagle nests can be found across the state, reflecting decades of successful restoration and habitat protection.
A Community of Viewers
Part of what makes the Dale Hollow Eagle Cam special is the way people engage with it. Viewers do not simply watch once. They return again and again, following courtship, incubation, feeding, growth and fledging with genuine interest and care. That continuing involvement has helped make the Eagle Cam both an educational resource and a shared community experience centered on Dale Hollow Lake.
Honoring
Obey and River
For many viewers, the story of the Dale Hollow Eagle Cam began with the original pair, Obey and River. Their nesting seasons helped build the loyal audience that still follows the cam today, and many people remain deeply connected to their story. As Sunset Marina now reflects, Obey and River have passed away, but they remain an important part of the Eagle Cam’s history and of the public’s affection for this nest.
A New Chapter at the Nest
The Dale Hollow Eagle Cam has now entered a new chapter. The nest is home to a new adult pair, and the project continues to draw strong public interest from viewers who follow the activity closely throughout each nesting season. In 2026, a new partnership with the American Eagle Foundation began helping support and share the Dale Hollow Eagle Cam with an even wider audience.
To learn more or if you have specific questions, visit: DHEC Info: https://daleholloweaglecam.net
To learn more about bald eagle biology, visit the American Eagle Foundation website: https://eagles.org/what-we-do/educate…
AEF Newsletter (with nest updates): https://eagles.org/flight-path-sign-up/
For more LIVE bald eagle nest cams and to join the conversation on these platforms:
Dale Hollow Eagle Cam Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaleHollowEa…
AEF Nest Cams
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AEFNestCams
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanEagl...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AEFeagles/