Watch a bald eagle freak out during the Channel Islands earthquake

A mother bald eagle got a scare when a 5.3-magnitude earthquake rocked her nest perched in a tree in the Channel Islands National Park off the coast from Santa Barbara, Calif. A mother bald eagle got a scare when a 5.3-magnitude earthquake rocked her nest perched in a tree in the Channel Islands National Park off the coast from Santa Barbara, Calif. Photo: Explore.org Photo: Explore.org Image 1 of / 63 Caption Close Watch a bald eagle freak out during the Channel Islands earthquake 1 / 63 Back to Gallery

A mother bald eagle got a scare when a 5.3-magnitude earthquake rocked her nest in California's Channel Islands National Park.

A live cam observing the nest on Santa Cruz Island off the coast of Santa Barbara, caught the bird's reaction when the quake hit at 12:29 p.m. on Thursday.

Before the quake, the mother is seen sitting calmly with her chicks, but as the nest begins shaking, she looks quickly around before briefly flying overhead. When the movement stoped, she returns.

As news of the shaker spread, many visited the Explore.org webcam to check on the eagles' status.

"Nature is incredible and unpredictable! We're glad the whole family is ok," wrote one viewer.

"Yes so very happy," another chimed in. "I'm here in Santa Barbara and we felt it really strong too."

No significant damage has been reported after the shaker struck off the Southern California coast, but park spokesperson Yvonne Menard says some bricks fell from a chimney at a historic 1860s ranch on Santa Cruz Island.

Menard says the quake was felt by visitors and staff on the island, but no injuries were reported.

The Channel Islands are home to some 50 to 60 bald eagles. As of March, 13 active nests were counted. Menard says that the eagle population disappeared in the 1960s but an effort to reestablish the birds started in 2002 has brought them back.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.