Bald Eagle Nests & Nesting
Northeast Florida nest. © American Eagle Foundation
How do bald eagles establish a territory?
They select a breeding territory based upon an evaluation of all the things they are looking for: food supply, suitable nesting and perching trees, and isolation from excessive human activity. These areas are usually near where they themselves fledged as youngsters. Wintering birds do not establish a territory, but usually do use the same area each winter. – PN
Where do bald eagles build their nests?
Given the option, Bald Eagles will choose a ‘super-canopy’—one rising above the rest—tree with sturdy limbs and a commanding view of the surrounding terrain, which is also always very near to water. Typical nest heights are 50-125 feet high. On the Channel Islands, where large trees are also very scarce, Bald Eagles have built their nests on cliffs.
– PN
Who builds the nest? The male or the female?
Both are involved. Both eagles find nesting material—grasses, sticks, branches—and bring them into the nest. Both eagles move the sticks around; sometimes both have the same branch in their beaks at the same time and walk around the nest with the stick. One eagle may place a stick in one place, only to have the other eagle move it to another place—and this can happen multiple times!
What is the size of a Bald Eagle nest?
Most nests are about 6 feet across at the top, if not larger. With two adult eagles and one, two, or sometimes three young in the nest, it can get pretty crowded. Especially when you consider that as the nestlings approach fledging age, their wingspan is six feet or more, taking up most of the nest. Nests can get very deep—one was recorded in Florida that was 22 feet deep!—because most pairs add sticks to the same nest each year, and use them for many years.
What is an egg bowl/nest bowl?
Prior to the female laying eggs, the male and female will gather lots of soft nesting material—grasses, Spanish moss, whatever is available, and build a ‘bowl’ or ‘cup’ inside the larger nest. This bowl/cup will be the area into which the eggs are laid, providing them with a soft cushion. After the eaglets have hatched, the sides of the bowl/cup will help keep them in one place where the parents can shelter them more easily.
Why do Bald Eagles bring greenery to their nests throughout spring and summer?
Although no one knows for sure, some ideas by scientists are:
- these may serve as an insect repellent
- may be a clear signal to other eagles that this nest is well-tended so they better keep away.
- may provide a bit of camouflage
- may help to keep the nest clean.
– PN
How long can bald eagles reproduce?
Eagles are thought to be able to reproduce throughout their lifespan, but little documentation is available. One eagle has been documented successfully raising young in her 26th year.
Why do they keep adding sticks to the edges of the nest?
Eagles add material to their nest to build the sides up higher in order to keep the eaglet(s) from falling out.
Do bald eagle parents ever sleep in the nest together?
Yes, bald eagle parents can and do sometimes sleep in the nest together, though it’s not constant and not as likely as you think.
Typically the nest is created for the purposes of laying eggs and raising eaglet(s).
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Rapid growth: Eaglets gain weight quickly, sometimes doubling in size each week. Their wingspans can reach several feet before they fledge, so the nest has to be sturdy and roomy enough for all birds to move around without crowding.
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Parental accommodation: Because the adults are also large (wingspans 6–7 feet), the nest isn’t just for the chicks, it’s a space where parents can brood, feed, and protect their young.
What happens to the nest debris/Do they clean their nest/Why do the parents dig in the nest?
Eagle pairs are vastly different when it comes to cleanliness. Some pairs are very messy, and others are not. Parents may remove old prey remains and regularly bring in fresh nest material. Digging in the nest may help the parents find tidbits of food that have been dropped and also aerate the nest material, moving dirty nest material to the bottom and bringing fresh, clean material to the top.