The American Symbol Comes Under Video Surveillance

The American Symbol Comes Under Video Surveillance

Berry College in Rome, GA has welcomed some new faces on campus - a pair of bald eagles. The college first caught a glimpse of the birds back in March 2012, as they built a nest in a pine tree not far from the main entrance. Although bald eagles had been spotted in the vicinity of the campus for the past few years, this ranked as the first, documented nest in the modern history of Floyd County, where Berry College is located. Photographers from across the state showed up in droves to capture the activity, but it turned out the eagles nested too late in the season to produce offspring and, by April, had moved on.

The feathered friends headed home to their nest again this past fall, however, and mated. During that time the Berry College Telecom / Security team installed a surveillance system to view the eagles following the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service guidelines.

The system was made possible through the generosity of Fluidmesh, which donated the equipment needed. An outdoor PTZ camera has been mounted on top of an emergency call station 500 feet away from the nest and another 400 feet away from a building in the opposite direction. Berry College selected Fluidmesh to partner with them on this project to donate the radios needed for the system.

The system is up and running and live video streams of the eagles' nest can be viewed at:   http://www.berry.edu/eaglecam/

As of January 23rd, approximately 30,000 unique visitors - some from as far away as Japan and Europe - have "tuned in" hoping to see the eagles on their nest.

Fluidmesh will be recognized later this year by the DNR for their participation in this important, ecological effort.

As for the happy couple, it looks like love will keep them together.  Once paired, bald eagles remain together until one dies. The bald eagle became the National emblem in 1782 when the great seal of the United States was adopted.

Photos courtesy of Eddie Elsberry, Director of Sustainability, Berry College

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.