Nests of the Bald Eagle

Bald Eagles build large nests to live in and raise their young. One way the bald eagle adapts to its environment is by using the resources available in that environment to build his nest. Even though a bald eagle in Florida may have different materials available to make a nest than that of a bald eagle in Alaska, the bald eagle is able to build a nest that is suitable to its surroundings.

Although the eagle can adapt to the location where they decide to build a nest there are very similar traits in the trees they choose. The ideal tree for a bald eagle nest has a large crown or V shape to provide a lot of room to build the roomy nest. The bald eagle usually chooses the oak, hemlock, sycamore, pine or poplar tree. Typically the eagle builds the nest near the top of a tree that is somewhere between 50 and 150 feet tall. The perfect tree is almost always near the water.

The eagle chooses a high spot so that they can see everything going on around them. They spend most of their day waiting for prey to pass by so it is very important that have a good view of the surroundings. Since the bald eagle has very few predators they have the freedom to build their nests out in the open without concern for being preyed upon. Being in the open also gives them the space they need to take off and come in for a landing.

Once the perfect tree has been selected the bald eagle begins to gather materials. Sticks are the main building material used by the eagle and they range anywhere from 9 to 98 inches long and .12 to 2 inches in diameter. Like most birds, they gather what they can carry, place it in its position in the nest and then gather more. Both the female and the male gather materials for the nest.

The eagles form the nest by placing the stick in layers. They place the layers in the shape of a triangle and rotate the triangle for each layer. Smaller sticks are then woven in between and after many layers the nest begins to take shape. The completed nest is lined with grasses, pine needles, and moss. The final product may look a bit disheveled but it is very sturdy. In fact, it is so sturdy that it could support an adult human.