OHIO — Across the Buckeye State a notable bird’s nesting habit are on the rise according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Bald eagles use the winter months to nest, giving people an opportunity to see the birds hunt, improve their homes and establish their territories.
The species begin courting in January to find the other side of their pair before creating their nests, usually near rivers, wetlands and frozen lakes or occasionally in open fields. The population in Ohio has risen significantly in recent years, in 2022 an estimated 824 nesting pairs were seen statewide.
“The recent success of Ohio’s bald eagles is owed in a big way to improvements in the state’s water quality and habitat availability,” said Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker in a news release. “Expanding wildlife areas and Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio program to restore wetlands provides eagles with additional space to nest and raise their young. The bald eagle’s recovery is an example of how wildlife and habitats benefit when the state, conservation partners, and individuals work together.”
Adult and immature bald eagles can be spotted throughout the winter, but one is easier to spot. Adults have a white head and tail with a dark body creating distinctive identifiers while immature eagles have mottled brown and white plummage for four or five years.
The birds typically lay eggs and incubate in February and March, building their nests in sycamores, oaks and cottonwoods.
To report active bald eagle nest sites, click here. ODNR uses the data to estimate the population size and monitor trends.
