Spring is the time for eagles to lay their eggs into high nests in trees.   One old snag in the cliffs area of the Dewdrop Range offers us good views down into the nest.   When we had been to this spot a few days earlier, the parents were at the nest, but there were no eggs.   On a recent return visit, two eggs were clearly visible and the mother stood watch.

Bald eagles build their nests over many years, but continue to add to them one stick at a time each season.     As soon as they return from their wintering grounds, the rebuilding starts.   This old nest has been here for many years and will be used every year until the old tree falls in a windstorm.

On this windy day, the eagles took off and did circuits around the cliffs, making a number of landings on branches.

With the strong gusts, the aerobatic maneuvers made landings more difficult.   She was never out of sight of the nest and never gone for long.

Although the nest is made up of sticks, the interior of the nest has a number of softer materials – mosses, grasses, feathers, and other fibrous materials.

While we watched, the mother inspected the eggs, she sat of the eggs for a while, and she kept a sharp lookout for any threats to the nest.

The eggs will hatch in about 35 days so we will be back to see the results.   The young hatchlings will then be in the nest for 10-12 weeks before they can fly off on their own.   We will return at each stage, equipped with our telephoto lenses, and more importantly, with a quiet, unobtrusive approach to this special spot in the hills.