Man who launched Decorah eagles webcam dies suddenly

[cyberswede]

DECORAH — The Decorah eagles’ best friend and an inspiration to the thousands of raptor enthusiasts he helped create died suddenly Monday morning.

Bob Anderson, founder and director of the Raptor Resource Project, helped save peregrine falcons from extinction, led the successful effort to reintroduce them to their historic eyries on the bluffs of the Mississippi River and then educated and warmed the hearts of multitudes with an Internet nest camera that documented the lives of a bald eagle family.

Scores of Decorah eagle fans, writing on the Raptor Resource Project’s Facebook page, expressed their condolences and their wish that his spirit will soar with birds he loved.

Friend and colleague Dave Kester of Decorah said Anderson had been feeling weak, tired and short of breath this spring before being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which at times manifested itself with a racing heartbeat. Anderson was on his way to the doctor Monday when he collapsed and died, Kester said.

http://www.kcrg.com/subject/news/man-who-launched-decorah-eagles-webcam-dies-suddenly-20150728

Too bad.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

1. Very sad news.

I hope someone picks up the torch.

[cwydro]

2. I watched the latest hatchlings all spring.

How sad.

I do hope he is soaring with his eagles.

that's a great website.

[Chiyo-chichi]

3. Sad news, indeed.

I spent many, many hours on Ustream watching the Decorah nest... and I'm sure I first learned about it here on DU a number of years ago.

Rest in peace, Bob.

[2naSalit]

4. That's interesting...

and sad. Another of the founders or operators of the project died last year too, and rather unexpectedly. Hmmm.

I have been watching that webcam for years and have been working on a public presentation (for my job) using imagery from the webcam.

The camera was damaged in a hail storm in June about a week or less after the last clutch of eaglets fledged from the nest.

Bummer in the first order.

[Thav]

5. Boo.

I went to college in Decorah. I wouldn't be surprised if someone else in the community picks this up. It's a shame, but the Decorah Eagles have brought joy to many people around the world. A friend of mine works for a nursing home corporation and says that a lot of their internet bandwidth usage was the eagle cam.

He may have died suddenly, but his work has made an impact on the world.