Bald Eagle nests are large!
Hi All, I would like to respond to a good question about the size of Bald Eagle nests. As you might imagine nests vary in size. An average nest ranges from 1.5 to 1.8m (4.9 to 5.9 ft.) in diameter and 0.7 to 1.2 m (2.3 to 3.9 ft.) in height. Nests sometimes increase in size over time as eagles renest and continue to add nest materials. They are built either on cliffs or near the top of a large tree where they are supported by a set of large branches and interwoven sticks. The Bald Eagle nest that we observe on the web cam appears to be on the larger side. This is an estimate because I have only viewed the nest from the ground.
Patrick Keenan,
BioDiversity Research Institute
reference: Buehler, D. A. 2000. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). In The Birds of North America, No. 506 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc, Philadelphia, PA
Patrick Keenan,
BioDiversity Research Institute
reference: Buehler, D. A. 2000. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). In The Birds of North America, No. 506 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc, Philadelphia, PA
posted by Bald Eaglecam at 12:06 PM
9 Comments:
Oct. 6
An eagle, which I believe was Dad, made a couple of short visits today...
It's a start.
thanks for the info on the nest sizes! i always used to guestimate that it was about 5 feet wide considering the size of the eagles, but was never really certain! it's amazing just how bird these beautiful birds really are!
D-MAINE
9/8 6:25Patrick, thanks for the great explanation of how eagles nest. It may be difficult for us to imagine the youngsters being so unattached & independant for their early years, not having a specific "home" to go to - but they are not humans so the shelter of a tree and a piece of roadkill is where the heart is.
In regards to the size (depth)of this nest, I seem to remember way back in the beginning, or maybe just last year, seeing a camera angle that was pulled far back allowing full view of the nest. Was it BRI at the controls? - during non-nesting times Wing would sometimes pull the view back til complaints were blogged that it needed to be closer. The state IF&W, I think also had photos on their site long ago. It IS amazing to see it's total mass.
Another great sunrise on the nest, I think I heard ravens cronking in the distance around 6:30. Wouldn't that be cool bird to focus a camera on - good luck!!
J in S.P.ME
10/8/08 - 1:22 PM in SE Michigan
I'm listening to that hammering/chopping sound again. It sounds as though someone is building something right next to the microphone. It's really quite loud and I'm wondering if this would keep th Eagles from nesting when the time comes.
Wednesday afternoon around 3:40 I tuned in to an eagle on the nest with food. Not sure if it's a rabbit or seagull type bird. There's more noise like hammering or ax work. Eagle picked some fur/feathers then to y branch and off.
10/10/2008
10:55AM
Thank you Patrick. Enjoyed the various zoom ins/outs but for today when the cam zoomed it, it didn't get focused and it's a bit blurry.
Can you fix that, or maybe it's my own eyes?
Patti
6/10 noon
To Carole in Michigan: in regards to the noise at the nest; it can sound very much like hammering/building and people do live near the nest. Here's how I think about noise bothering the Eagles - they've nested there for over 13 years and raised many young, so I feel they are used to the noise or it doesn't bother them. Maybe the don't feel it is threatening to them in any way so it's not an issue.
That noise has really been a part of the cam experience thru at least last year cos I remember commenting on the slashing sound last season. What a mystery!
I was lonesome for the birds yesterday and I clicked on the blog archives at the very earliest point they began; I was amazed how much basic info is there about the eagles and their nesting habits, I read for a half hour easily before I had to make myself go back to work. Get some hot tea and settle down with great memories of our Eagles circa 2006!
J in S.P.ME
Oct 10, 2008 15:12(EDT)
This is a video from Oct 8th, of a lone eagle that brought in something white - seemed to be eating it, but the remainder lies in the nest even today. Seems more like a white piece of paper.
http://www.viddler.com/explore/rgeegee/videos/332/
You'll need to copy and paste it into your browser.
GG
7:08 in SE Michigan
To J in S.P.ME:
Thanks for your response and I do feel reassured that the noise won't be an issue. This will be my fourth season watching these Eagles and I was concerned because I don't remember anything quite so loud in the previous years. Again, thanks.
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