American Bald Eagles Nesting in Michigan Nature Center, Observers Welcome

In a Michigan nature preserve a pair of American bald eagles were spotted building a nest. Observers and birdwatchers are welcome, according to officials.

Breeding Behavior of American Bald Eagles

The eagles have been seen at Shelby Township's Holland Ponds Park, and it is thought that they are getting ready for eaglets.

A wildlife photographer who is also a bald eagle observer, Joan Bonin, said in a statement from the township that the pair of bald eagles were observed sitting low in the nest. Observations also note the pair seeming to roll eggs and switch tasks. These are signs that the couple is incubating eggs, Elizabeth Shultz stated.

Shultz is a naturalist and the Shelby Township Parks, Recreation, and Maintenance Nature Center Coordinator.

According to her, it can take one to three eggs about five weeks of incubation to hatch after being laid as early as January.

Shultz added that the chicks don't resemble adults when they first take flight at about three months old. The underside of the wings of juveniles is spotted with white. Up until the age of five, they lack the recognizable white head and tail.

According to officials, American bald eagles would also remain monogamous to one another and return to the same nest each year if the rearing is successful.

The nest, or an eyrie, begins at a width of about 5 feet, but as the pair builds on it each year, it can expand to a maximum width of 9 feet and weigh as much as a car.

Guidelines to Protect New Eagles

Working together is essential, according to Schultz, to safeguard the young eagle. This entails abiding by federal regulations for viewing in a manner that won't irritate them. Drones are not allowed within a 1,000-foot radius of the nest, and visitors must stay over 330 feet away.

According to Shultz, eagles may abandon their nest as well as their young if they become overly stressed.

This guideline in particular is not unique to bald eagles in Michigan. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, eagles will expend valuable energy flying away if bird watchers or boaters approach them too closely. It puts them under unnecessary stress and might lead to a site being abandoned.

Shultz also cautioned that improper fishing line disposal and the use of lead-based lures pose risks to wildlife, particularly bald eagles, who may become poisoned by lead from the fish they consume or become entangled in old fishing lines while scouting.

Also Read: Bald Eagle Suffers Severe Anemia, Lethargy After Ingesting Rat Poison in Massachusetts

On Saturday, April 8, between 2 PM and 3 PM, Shultz and Bonin intend to lead a free guided hike through the park so that locals and visitors can safely observe the eagles, Shelby Township, MI reports.

Director Joe Youngblood, the township's director of parks and recreation, was later recognized by Township Supervisor Rick Stathakis as the ambassador to welcome the American bald eagles to the township. Stathakis also expressed his delight at learning that a pair of bald eagles are nesting in one of the parks because he is a patriotic American.

Stathakis, however, urges everyone to abide by Schultz's recommendations first to make sure the eagles have the best possible chance to flourish and raise a family in our lovely community.

From being contaminated in the past, with only 52 active bald eagles, according to Shultz, the park is now teeming with life. Great blue herons, beavers, and, the American bald eagle are all visible, Click on Detroit reports.