Bald Eagle Update

NESTING BALD EAGLES CONFIRMED IN
CLEVELAND METROPARKS ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION

Bald eagles were recently reported in Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation engaging in nesting activity and an eagle was observed sitting on a nest this week. This is the first time in decades that eagles have nested in the Rocky River Valley and only the second confirmed nest in Cuyahoga County. In 2007, the first pair of eagles in 70 years successfully nested and fledged young in Cuyahoga County, in Cleveland Metroparks Brecksville Reservation.  

Chief of Outdoor Education Dr. Robert Hinkle describes the nest as “Approximately 5 feet in diameter made of sticks and about 60-80 feet above the ground. The birds typically start with a nest vacated by a heron or hawk and add new material to make it suitable for raising their young. I hope that this pair will be able to successfully raise and fledge chicks and contribute to the growing numbers of bald eagles in this area.”  

“I am pleased that Cleveland Metroparks has provided the habitat necessary for nesting bald eagles,” said Chief of Natural Resources Dr. John Mack.  “This again confirms the importance of preserving and protecting wildlands in urban spaces.”                 

The specific location of the nest has not been disclosed. Human disturbance can have an impact on the bald eagle, as most need privacy and quiet to breed. Many times, people wanting to observe or photograph the eagles can disturb them enough to cause them to abandon a nest. The most sensitive period is prior to egg laying and during incubation. For this reason, the location will not immediately be made public and access to the area will be restricted.

Although recently removed from the endangered species list, the bald eagle is still protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Both federal laws prohibit taking, killing, selling, or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.

Bald Eagle Facts

Size: Bald eagles weigh from ten to fourteen pounds. The female bald eagle is about 3 feet tall, slightly larger than the male, with a wingspan from between 7 and 7.5 feet. The male bald eagle is about 6 inches shorter in height and wingspan than the female. Northern birds are significantly larger than their southern relatives.

Longevity: Wild bald eagles may live as long as thirty years, but the average lifespan is typically fifteen to twenty years.

Eyesight: All eagles are renowned for their excellent eyesight and the bald eagle is no exception. They have two foveae, or centers of focus, that allow the birds to see both forward and to the side at the same time. Bald eagles are capable of seeing fish in the water from several hundred feet above, while soaring, gliding or flapping in flight. Eagles, like all birds, have color vision. An eagle’s eye is almost as large as a human’s but its sharpness is at least four times that of a person with perfect vision.

Nest: A typical nest is about 5 feet in diameter. Eagles often use the same nest year after year. Over the years, some nests become enormous, as much as 9 feet in diameter, weighing two tons. Even when a nest tree falls or a strong wind blows a nest down, the established pair usually rebuilds at or near the site within a few weeks, if it is near the breeding season. The nest may be built in a tree, or on a cliff, or even on the ground, if there are no other options available.

Eggs: Eagles lay one to three eggs annually. The 35 days of incubation duties are shared by both male and female, but it is the female who spends most of her time on the nest. Trading places on the nest can be a tense time. The brooding parent may have to call for relief, or may be reluctant to leave and have to be pushed off the eggs or young. During incubation, one parent is always on the nest, not only to keep the eggs warm but also to protect them from squirrels, crows and gulls that can break open and eat the eggs.

Hatching: The eggs hatch in the order they were laid. Eaglets break through the shell by using their egg tooth, a pointed bump on the top of the beak. It can take from 12 to 48 hours to hatch after making the first break in the shell (pipping). Once the eggs begin to hatch, the adult female’s vigilance becomes nearly constant. The male provides the majority of the food needed by his rapidly growing family. Eventually, the female will take up her share of the hunting, but in the early days, all of her attention is given to the young eaglets in the nest.

Keep Your Distance: Human disturbance will have an impact on the bald eagle, as most need some privacy and quiet to breed. People wanting to observe or photograph the eagles can disturb them enough to cause them to abandon a nest. The most sensitive period is prior to egg laying and during incubation. For this reason, Cleveland Metroparks will restrict public access to the area.