Bald eagles occupy nest on river

At least one American bald eagle has settled in a nest along the North Fork of the Palouse River in the Glenwood area.

According to the Bald Eagle Institute, the American Bald Eagle is the only eagle unique to North America.

The bird of prey builds the largest nest of any North American bird and the largest tree nests ever recorded for any animal species, up to 13 feet deep, eight feet wide and weighing about one ton.

When the bird reaches maturity, its head becomes white.

It is assumed eagles mate for life, but if one mate dies or disappears, the other will choose a new mate.

Bald eagles are early breeders. Nest building is often done by mid-February, egg laying is often in late February and incubation is usually mid-March and early May. Eggs hatch from mid-April to early May.

Nests are used repeatedly over many years with new material added each year.

According to State Fish and Wildlife Officer Doug King, if the eagles lay eggs, most of the time the birds will produce perhaps two chicks. Average gestation is between 35 to 40 days.

If chicks are hatched in the nest, they could be visible by May and King said observers could see the chicks hopping around and flapping their wings.

King also said that the chicks likely will be kicked out of the nest by August.

Eagles produce one to three eggs per year, but it’s rare for three chicks to survive. Both males and females take turns incubating the eggs with the female doing most of the incubation. For the first two to three weeks of the nesting period, at least one adult is at the nest almost 100 percent of the time.

No official eagle’s nest is listed in Whitman County on the state Department of Fish and Wildlife web site.

King asks that if bird watchers spot the eagle’s nest that they do not disturb the birds. He said people must be quiet and preferably stay in their vehicles to avoid stressing the birds.