Exploring the life of Oregon’s largest nest maker: The bald eagle
August 18, 2025
For many of us, the bald eagle conjures the image of a majestic sky predator. Folks rarely think of a freshly hatched, defenseless puffball. However, the pipeline from puny to powerful only takes three months. Let’s start at the beginning.
Making a house a home
Bald eagles have a taste for sturdy, scenic real estate. They favor robust conifer trees near water, typically placing their nests high — within the upper two-thirds of the tree. When conifers aren’t an option, they may adapt by settling on cliffs, communication towers or, in rare cases, even the ground. If a nest fails, bald eagles often construct an alternative one nearby or may attempt to rebuild higher up in the same tree. Their homes are impressively large, often spanning 5 to 6 feet across and reaching 3 feet in height. In Alaska, some abandoned eagle nests have even doubled as cozy nap spots for young black bear cubs.
Bald eagles will often return to the same nest each year, adding fresh material each breeding season. They are well known for their nest site fidelity. In fact, the largest nest on record was used for 34 years and weighed over 2 tons by the time the supporting tree was blown down. If you’re interested in what happens in a nest, wildlife nest cams are a great way to get an eagle’s point of view as the chicks grow up. The American Eagle Foundation offers several nest camera location options, complete with helpful details about the featured eagle families.
From egg to eaglet
Bald eagles incubate their eggs for roughly 35 days after laying them. Each clutch typically contains two eggs, though it can range from one to three. For the first three weeks of the chicks’ lives, they are rarely, if ever, left unattended. Both parents share the responsibility of feeding and protecting their young.
When the parents bring food back to the nest, the largest chick often eats first and the most. Depending on prey availability and environmental conditions, this can sometimes lead to the loss of a sibling. It’s a harsh reality, but such challenges are part of life in the wild. Survival begins on day one.
Baby’s first flaps
By 8 weeks of age, eagle nestlings begin flapping their wings to strengthen flight muscles, often hopping to nearby branches as they practice landing. Occasionally, a young bird may miss a branch and end up on the ground, but its parents typically continue to feed and care for the relocated chick. If you encounter a young eagle on the ground, keep your distance and remain quiet. Adult eagles are likely nearby and may aggressively defend their offspring. If the chick appears injured or unresponsive, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for assistance. Organizations licensed in Oregon are permitted through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and must follow strict protocols and complete proper training to assist with issues involving protected species such as bald eagles, which are safeguarded by both federal and state laws.
Young eagles will begin to properly fledge 10 to 12 weeks after hatching. As fledglings, they stay close to the nest, roosting on nearby branches as they continue to develop independence over the next few months. Once their downy feathers have molted, juveniles will keep their fully brown color for the first few years of their lives. The iconic stark white head and tail won’t make an appearance until they mature and begin to form reproductive pairs, around 4 or 5 years old.
Policy and legislation have worked to protect the bald eagle
Few species embody the triumph of the Endangered Species Act quite like the bald eagle. Once teetering on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss and the widespread use of the pesticide commonly known as DDT — which interfered with the birds’ ability to produce strong eggshells, causing them to break or otherwise fail to hatch — bald eagles have become a powerful symbol of coordinated conservation. DDT was banned in the U.S. in the early 1970s, the first step on the road to recovery for the bald eagle. Scientists and policymakers frequently point to the bald eagle’s recovery as a shining example of how legislation, public awareness and habitat protection can effectively reverse steep population declines.
In 2007, bald eagles were officially removed from the endangered species list — a milestone that marked decades of collaboration to save the raptor adopted as our country’s national symbol. Today, they remain protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, ensuring continued stewardship of their habitats and nesting sites. On state and private lands in Oregon specifically, active nests are protected under the Oregon Forest Practices Act, which prohibits logging within a 330-foot buffer zone around the nest tree until it no longer serves as a nesting location.
For more information on bald eagle nest tree protections and the Oregon Forest Practices Act, check out OFRI’s Wildlife in Managed Forests: Forest Practices Act Reference Series.
From a fragile fluffball to a soaring symbol of strength, the bald eagle’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Its comeback is a testament to what’s possible when science, policy and community work together. Watching these birds grow, flap, fledge and finally take flight reminds us that even the smallest beginnings can lead to breathtaking heights.
Eliana Pool
Wildlife Biologist, Cafferata Consulting
Oregon Chapter of the Wildlife Society Board Member
Oregon Society of American Foresters Wildlife Liaison
Heather Thomas
Wildlife Technician, Cafferata Consulting
References:
Bald Eagle Fact Sheet (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
Bald Eagle Fledging (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy)
Bald Eagle Eggs: Appearance, Egg-Laying, Incubation, and Egg-Hatching (Avian Report)
Forest Practice Notes: Bald Eagles (Oregon Department of Forestry)