By Todd Von Ehwegen, Natural Resource Manager – Environmental Education
The Lime Creek Nature Center, long a popular destination for wildlife watching, has now made it possible for nature enthusiasts to observe resident wildlife without stepping foot from their homes.
A web cam has been installed on the south side of the building overlooking the nature center’s popular bird feeding area. The camera swivels and can zoom in and out, providing the opportunity to view the entire feeding area or focus on an individual feeder.
The web cam can be accessed on the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board’s (CGCCB) website.
The camera can be controlled by individual users of the site by simply clicking on the “start control” icon, which allows the capability to change camera views and zoom in and out. Camera pre-sets allow users to focus on various individual feeders at the feeding station. Control time is limited to five minutes per user.
According to Todd Von Ehwegen, Natural Resource Manager – Environmental Education for the CGCCB, the purpose of the web cam is not to replace real outings in nature, but to increase wildlife viewing and educational opportunities for the public.
“People can’t be in an outdoor setting all the time, so this is an opportunity for folks to check in on our feeders and see what is happening, perhaps after a snowstorm, or at dusk, or during peak migration time,” Von Ehwegen said.
“The web cam also provides an opportunity for people in mobility impaired situations to enjoy wildlife watching. In addition, we believe that area schools may find some great educational opportunities in using the web cam to bring nature into their classrooms. We are just very excited to offer this new “twist” to wildlife watching.”
