In
The Bald Eagle, Gerrard and Bortolotti, it states, "As a species, the Bald Eagle appears to be an adaptable bird, even nesting on a giant cactus in Baja, California, a bare rock in the middle of a Saskatchewan river rapids, and a hayloft of a barn on the Niagara River." It further states that BE's are "highly selective as to where they place their nests". They generally build in dominant trees: big red and white pines in Minnesota, pines and cypresses in Florida and Douglas-firs, Sitka spruces, and cottonwoods in Alaska.
The actual tree has distinct qualities. "The Bald Eagle prefers a more secure site in the crotch of a tree sheltered from the elements. An eagle's nest tree is usually alive but often has a broken, deformed, or a dead top. Nest trees, regardless of their species, are stout for their height and large crowns." It also says they will have a spacious canopy which is advantageous for the adults during takeoffs and landings. The large crown provides a secure site in which to build a large nest.
Hey Bob - this part is for YOU. (Keep in mind this book is copyrighted in 1988). "Only a few Bald Eagles have nested on man-made nest structures. Sergej Postupalsky has witnessed some nesting attempts on platforms in Michigan. Eagles have accepted a large tripod erected by Teryl Grubb in Arizona to serve as a substitute for a nest that blew down. Similarly, eagles have used makeshift wooden pallet platforms to replace fallen nests." This is like the Sutton nest in Stillwater, OK. Here's a pic.
The book does go on to say that it is common to find 2 or more nests within the territory of a single pair of eagles. The last thing I want to add from the book interestingly is this statement: "Usually the active and alternate nests are within a few hundred yards of each other". Sound familiar?
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Topic: All About Nests (Read 35494 times)