<< Back Start Next >>

If building a nest from scratch, the birds carefully select a tree. They usually select a living tree. They look for a nest tree located where there dead trees ("snags") nearby. They use the snags as viewing posts, to keep an eye on the nest when they are off away from the nest finding food. If a nest tree remains standing, the eagles often use it for many years, as long as the nest is secure. The healthier the nest tree is to start with, the longer it will last. One nest, located in Ohio, was used for 34 years, until the tree finally blew down. An old dead tree, still sturdy, with a large nest in its top. Photo: Ray Foster