01/06/2026
🦅🦅BY DIANA HENSLEY
Over the past decade, I’ve nOver the past couple of decades, more and more Bald Eagles have been seen in our area. Each year, several pairs nest in Southwest Minnesota, near the Big Sioux River in Brandon, South Dakota, and around Rock Rapids, Iowa.
On Monday, December 22, on a return trip from Marshall, I topped a small hill on County Road 18 north of Woodstock. I was shocked to see a new-to-me Bald Eagle nest in a tall tree on the east side of the road.
As I approached, I noticed an eagle in a smaller tree on the east side of the tree with the nest. I slowed down to look more closely. It looked like the nest was only half complete. As I passed it, a second eagle approached from the south, carrying a long maple stick with dried leaves. The two eagles met at the top of the nest. I could only see their heads and breasts at that point. I didn’t want to disturb them, so I went on my way.
I knew I had to drive to Marshall the next day and looked forward to seeing their progress. Since I hadn’t seen the nest in previous years, I assumed these eagles were young adults, courting for the first time.
On Tuesday afternoon, I topped the hill to find they had doubled the size of the nest! One eagle sat in the tree to the east, and then flew to the top of the nest with a small stick, but the other eagle wasn’t around. I took a few snapshots, and decided to return right after Christmas.
Bald Eagles typically choose to build their nest in the tallest tree among several, providing a good vantage point at 50-120 feet above the ground. The pair construct the nest together and sometimes begin building one to three months before the female is ready to lay eggs. Bald Eagles prefer to build away from people, but near water for easy access to food.
After using large sticks for the main structure, the eagles line the nest with soft material, such as grasses or moss, and sometimes add sod, creating a soft bowl for cradling eggs and young.
Bald Eagle nests are usually about 6-10 feet wide and at least 6 feet tall. The cavity or bowl in which the female lays the eggs is usually about a foot deep. One Bald Eagle nest can weigh 1,000-2,000 pounds. Interestingly, the eagles reuse the same nest each year, adding branches or sticks each year, or year round if they remain near their breeding grounds.
I returned to photograph the updated nest on Friday, December 26, anxious to see the Bald Eagles’ progress. Little had changed! And, there were no eagles in sight. It was so disappointing. Had the pair abandoned their project? If so, it was likely due to the coming weather. Apparently, Bald Eagles build their nests off and on as weather permits while courting in winter.
I spoke with some other birders at our Audubon Christmas Bird Count meet-up. Some fellow birders have observed pairs who stay near Edgerton year-round, and another pair near Pipestone that work on their nest off and on and leave for weeks at a time, returning to nest in late winter.
If you are out and about driving north on County Rd 18 north of Woodstock, watch for three trees on the east side of the road. The nest is in the middle tree—you won’t miss it.
