This page is part of our Eagle Nest Diaries series that began in 2002 and continued in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The following photos were taken on an INHF project site along the Upper Iowa River in 2005. By protecting this land, INHF members also helped protect a bald eagle pair's nest. The photos below show the eagle parents raising eaglets in that nest. The photos were taken with a high-powered lens by Mary Ellen Leicht. Keep checking this page as it will be updated whenever we get new information and pictures.

February 14, 2005: Action at the nest
There were 2 eagles standing on nest. Because of poor lighting
conditions, our source coundn't tell if they were matures or immatures.

February 21, 2005: Settling in?
Our source reports seeing a mature eagle on nest--but has no way of
knowing if it "is trying it on for size, resting or actually laying or
incubating eggs."

March 5, 2005: The Eagles Return Home
From this day to the present, a mature eagle has been on the nest
each time our source has checked. Pictures are not yet available because our
spotters have a "lower" and "upper" site for viewing. They are limiting
themselves to the lower area, which doesn't have good photography angles,
until the snow is gone so they don't leave tracks that would attract casual
hikers to the nest area. This is a very responsible choice because
well-meaning people who get too close to the nest could easily scare the
eagles away, perhaps forcing them to abandon the nests and their
eggs/nestlings. Consequently, we've made a point to not reveal the exact
location of this nest. If YOU should find an eagle's nest, do not approach
or bother the birds. Stay at least 400 yards (four football fields) away
from the nest and watch with binoculars or spotting scopes.

April 4, 2005: Eaglets Arrive!
Our sources report seeing babies in the nest! The new arrivals seemed to be newly hatched, although oftentimes eagle eggs laid in the same nest won't hatch on the same day. With the spell of warm weather we've been having, the eaglets parents have spent quite a bit off the nest, so our spotters could see this year's brood, which seems to contain two offspring.

These pictures were taken the weekend of April 9th - 10th. The babies were about a week old at that time.

Male vs. Female
It is very obvious which adult is the female and the male. When we first started watching the nest, we didn't know if it was the male or the female sitting on the babies. But when the other adult flew into the nest, we could tell it was the male. The male is much smaller and sleeker looking than the female. We could not see any leg bands again this year.






Fish Again!
We also watched some of the feedings. Sometimes the female would feed the babies and at different times the male would feed the babies. One time as the female was feeding the babies some fish, the male flew up to the opposite side of the nest and started eating a different unidentifiable chunk of something. After he had fed himself for a while, he actually started trying to help feed the babies (from behind) as the female was continuing to feed them. The babies were way too focused on mom's food and totally ignored dad, so he started eating for himself again!
 

Delivery
One time we saw the adult male leave the tree to the north of us and fly down towards the river. He went out of sight of us, but we could see the female on the nest watching and watching down towards where he went. And then all of a sudden, we saw him flying up to the nest with something in his feet. As the picture above shows, he brought back what looked like dried grasses and pine needles for bedding. He not only brought the soft nesting material up to the nest, but also spread it around. They would also use the bedding material and pull it up and over top of the babies like a blanket.

Guardians
Another very cool thing we saw was when an immature bald eagle flew over the nest. Many different types of birds fly over or near the nest during the day - ranging from song birds to turkey vultures to crows to geese to various hawks. The adult - and the babies - in the nest will watch the other birds fly by and over the nest but never really give any type of reaction to those passing through. But when the immature flew over, it was a totally different story!

We watched the immature flying up the river and were surprised that one was hanging around, but the parents of the babies had much stronger reactions! The adult male bolted from the trees next to us and sped towards the immature as it banked to go over the nest. The adult then attacked the immature and they were chest to chest fighting - talons clawing out and interlocking - and falling towards the river when they went out of sight. We could also hear the fierce vocalizations from both of them as they were tumbling down through the air. The adult female in the nest was also calling out her disapproval of the immature being so near to the nest. It was quite the amazing sight. (Sorry, no pictures - we were all caught up in the moment and in awe of what was happening in such a short amount of time!)

As you can also see from the pictures, the adults face different directions when they are sitting. It is fun to watch when the babies get squirmy and rambunctious underneath the parent. The parent is being bumped up and down and is half standing up at times.