Enjoy, but don’t disturb bald eagles

By Stephanie Hughes

Ohio certified volunteer naturalist

For years my husband and I have watched the bald eagles in our area. There are so many, but it is still a thrill to see one.

There are so many places around us to view them: Berlin Lake, West Branch State Park, Walborn Reservoir, Mill Creek Park and Meander Reservoir, to name only a few.

We have even seen one flying over downtown Cleveland.

Well, last year Bill found a nest by our home.

We watched almost daily – feedings, sitting, attention.

It was great until the huge Sycamore tree leafed out. This tree is amazing, and a large tree-sized branch hangs over the Mahoning River.

The nest is so strategically placed for protection. It is very large, but heads show in the skylight.

This is mating season for the bald eagle. They mate for life, and unless disturbed in some way, return to the same nest year after year.

The female lays one to three eggs that incubate for 35 days from February through April.

They always nest near water, as they eat fish.

They are year-round residents, and both incubate the eggs and feed the young.

Bill has seen them teaching their young flight over Meander and playing “catch the duck” at Lake Milton, and they do seem to have a sense of humor.

There was a deer carcass in our far back yard recently. A young eagle came and tried to drag it away. We knew it was young because before the age of 5, the head and tail are dark. The adult has the characteristic ivory bill and white head and tail.

As one sat on the nest, we watched the mate sitting close by watching intently as their home was made ready for this year’s young.

Once highly endangered, Ohio only had four pairs. As of 2017, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimates nesting pairs of 221, with 312 young, nesting throughout our great state.

Although they are no longer endangered, they are protected by the Ohio and federal government as a living treasure. People are warned not to stress or excite eagles as this takes energy needed to rear young.

That is the caution – enjoy, but do not disturb.

To learn more about bald eagles in Ohio, visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources at http://go.osu.edu/baldeagle.