02/08/2026
Eagle Facts
This time of year is especially busy for Mom and Dad2 as they restore their nests in preparation for laying eggs and raising a new brood. We often observe our eagles climbing up trees like a cat to get to a potential branch for their nest. We also observe how remarkably selective they are when choosing branches for their nests, prioritizing strength and practicality. They typically select sturdy, dead branches free of leaves. Sometimes we see them carrying straight, durable conifer branches and small sprigs to plug in those holes. Most eagles consider length and weight since they must carry materials back to the nest, sometimes over long distances. As you can see when they bring the branches back to the nest that Mom and Dad2 have an eye for architecture. We often photograph them working together and placing the branches in certain positions that interlock well with existing materials to restore the massive bowl-shaped structure that they call their home.
This series is of Mom giving it her all to break this way to sturdy branch off. She didn’t have much luck with this one, but she flew off and found a loose branch in a neighboring tree that she found acceptable.
