 |
| ©LISA ROMANIUK | | Eagle pair incubating eggs, March 2009 |
 |
For several years, park staff and visitors have routinely seen bald eagles along the Cuyahoga River in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. In 2006 eagles built a nest in the Pinery Narrows area, the first recorded in Cuyahoga County in more than 70 years. That nest was unsuccessful, but eagles returned to build another nearby the following year. In 2007, the pair successfully raised one eaglet, marking the official return of nesting bald eagles to the Cuyahoga Valley. They returned to the same nest in 2008 and again raised one eaglet.
In February 2009, the eagle pair returned once again and began adding sticks to the same nest used in 2007 and 2008. Unfortunately, the nest blew down during a high windstorm in early February, but there were no eggs in the nest. The pair remained in the area and began to rebuild their nest nearby, in a new tree.
The female began incubating egg(s) around February 28. Eggs incubate for 35 days. Eagle eggs and young are extremely sensitive to cold temperatures so adults must remain on the nest constantly. Human disturbance can disrupt this constant care, jeopardizing nesting success. Park staff took care to direct foot and water traffic away from the nesting area and we asked visitors to honor the closures so could have another successful breeding year.
Recently, the pair was observed away from the nest for periods of time and has now left the area. Park Biologist Meg Plona states, “Nests fail frequently due to weather conditions. The rebuilt nest was somewhat small and there may not have been enough insulation at the bottom of the nest for the eggs. It is also possible that the eggs broke or fell as the parents entered or left the nest. We know that this pair has successfully reproduced in the past, so hopefully they will return next year, build a better nest and try again.”
All previous trail restrictions within the bald eagle nesting zone have been lifted and the closed areas are reopened.
Although recently removed from the endangered species list, the bald eagle is still protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Both federal laws prohibit “taking” – killing, selling, or otherwise harming eagles, their nests, or eggs.
Read more in CVNP's .
| 
