My 2025 Bald Eagle Nest Watch

This season's three nestlings relaxing in their nest.

While attending the Bald Eagle Nest Watch program's “thank you” picnic for volunteers of the 2024 season, one of the project coordinators asked if I would be interested in watching a different nest for 2025. His favorite nest to observe was in need of a new monitor. Due to moving out of state, he could no longer actively participate in the watch other than as coordinator. It was mentioned that there would be hiking, and that it was a relatively peaceful location just on the edge of the Driftless Area. 

Naturally I said, “YES!”

My first scouting hikes were in late January when I knew the nest would be vacant. The frigid Wisconsin winter had done a good job freezing up the lake. Not far from this location a section of the Wisconsin River remains unfrozen year round. Bald eagles congregate along its banks, enjoying easy meals of fresh fish. It was obvious that this nesting season may begin much later than the woodland eagle nest I had observed last year. 

It was an incredibly refreshing experience to see this landscape in all its frozen beauty. Hiking solo, I enjoyed the simple act of opening all of my senses to my surroundings. Humanity was just a distant sound, that of agriculture, aircraft, or ice fishermen on quads. Even in winter the air was alive with the sounds of wildlife. I immediately fell in love with this landscape.

The nest seemed relatively new. There is in fact a much older nest nearby that had been the focus of all previous observation seasons. Located on a strip of land between two lakes, this new nest was also very close to a popular hiking trail.

When the pair finally settled down on their eggs I found myself also settling down while observing them. Determined to see either “egg rolling” behavior, or the return of the hunting partner, I would sit still for hours at a time. Keeping my phone in my pocket, I simply spent my time watching, listening, and considering any number of tough personal, or professional decisions. 

The anticipation I could see building as one mate grew tired of sitting in the nest was usually a sign something was going to happen. As soon as the returning partner was spotted, the sitting parent would launch into the air! I especially enjoyed their aerial bonding antics.

It seemed to take forever, but within a few weeks I saw something new!

April 11th, 2025, the FIRST sighting of a hatchling! So tiny!

On June 27th I observed all three nestlings become fledglings! This was the end of the truly amazing project. One in which I learned the value of simply observing my surroundings.

Thanks for the lesson eagles!