Welcome to the Eagle page! Here, we share live updates submitted by our volunteers, post pictures of our paired eagles throughout their nesting timeline, and inform the public about the safety procedures in place during this season.

Conservation and Recovery

The bald eagle is an inspiring conservation success story. Habitat loss, hunting, and the use of the pesticide DDT led to a severe decline in the species' numbers. However, protections such as a ban on DDT have contributed to the recovery of the bald eagle population.

• In 1963, there were only an estimated 417 breeding pairs in the United States.

• By 2019, this number increased to an estimated 71,467 breeding pairs and 316,700 individual bald eagles (USFWS 2020).

Recovery of the species has also occurred locally in the Willamette River Watershed. In 1978, there was only one active breeding area in the watershed. By 2007, this number had risen to 84 active breeding areas. Bald eagles now breed in 32 of Oregon's 34 counties (Isaacs and Anthony 2011).

Salem Bald Eagle Nests

We are currently monitoring two nesting bald eagle pairs on Minto Island. One pair has been utilizing an area at the northern tip of the island on Salem Audubon property for some time. In 2020, a new pair began nesting in Minto Brown Island Park. Both nesting pairs successfully raised eaglets in 2022 and 2023 and have returned to nest again in 2024.

Updates regarding the eagle pairs will be posted on this page.

Bald Eagle Nesting Behavior Timeline

November - January: Nest Building (1-3 Months)

During this time, the eagles will:

• Perch: They will perch in the nest tree or in adjacent trees, keeping the nest in sight.

• Work on the Nest: They will begin fixing holes and building a new cup in the nest.

• Courtship Behavior: They often perch shoulder to shoulder and perform courtship flights, which include:

  • Flying close together

  • Diving and tumbling

  • Making contact with each other in flight

February - March: Egg Laying (3-6 Days)

Female bald eagles typically lay two eggs, although they can lay as few as one or as many as four. Each egg is laid about 2 to 3 days apart, which means it takes 3 to 6 days for the female to complete her clutch.

February - April: Incubation (35 Days)

Once the first egg is laid, the incubation period begins and lasts for 35 days after the last egg is laid. During this time:

• Constant Presence: There will be an eagle on the nest around the clock.

• Shared Responsibilities: The pair takes turns incubating the egg(s), hunting, and protecting the nest.

• Incubating Eagle: The incubating eagle sits low in the nest, making it hard to see. Its head may be visible, or you may only notice its presence when it stands up to stretch, adjust nest material, roll the eggs, or switch places with its mate.

• Egg Rolling: Parents roll the eggs over about every 2 hours, so during a 2-hour observation period, you should see some movement in the nest.

March - May: Hatching (3-6 Days)

Eagle eggs will hatch 35 days after they are laid, so depending on when they were laid, they will hatch sometime between mid-March and early June. The eggs typically hatch one to several days apart, depending on their laying schedule.

If the eggs do not hatch, the parents will continue to incubate them for a while. Eventually, they will start spending more time off the nest and may ultimately give up if the eggs remain unhatched.

March - August: Nestlings (10-12 Weeks)

For the first 3 weeks after hatching, the female bald eagle does most of the brooding (caring for the chicks). During this time:

• Female's Role: The female spends most of her time in the nest, while the male brings food for her and the chicks and relieves her for short periods.

• Increased Activity: With chicks present, the adult eagles become more active and visible, often sitting higher in the nest.

• Visibility of Chicks: It may take weeks before the chick(s) are big enough and mobile enough to be seen in the nest from the ground.

Changes After 3 Weeks

• After the first 3 weeks, both parents begin leaving the nest unattended for short periods.

• By weeks 5 and 6, the parents start taking longer periods away from the nest and may begin to roost away from it. They will continue to protect the nestlings from inclement weather during this time.

June - August: Fledging (By week 12)

By 10 weeks of age, eaglets begin exercising their wings by jumping up and down in the nest. They will then start taking short hops and flights to branches within the nest tree, a behavior known as “branching.” This activity will continue for up to 7 to 10 days before they fledge.

Most eaglets fledge (take their first flight) around 12 weeks of age. However, the timing of actual fledging can be influenced by various factors. Parents may try to coax reluctant nestlings out of the nest using food and vocalizations.

June - November: Post-Fledging & Dispersal

For the first 6 weeks after fledging, young eagles typically stay close to the nest site and their parents. They may continue to return to the nest during this time. Regardless, their parents will keep bringing them food as long as they know where the fledglings are located.

Parents continue to deliver food to their fledglings until the young eagles learn to hunt on their own, which usually occurs between four and 10 weeks after leaving the nest.

Once the young eagles can find food independently (usually by early fall), the parents go their separate ways and remain solitary until the following breeding season.

Relative Sensitivity of Nesting Bald Eagles to Human Activities

Eagles are most vulnerable to disturbance during the first 3 months of nesting and may abandon their nest if disturbed. To help protect these birds, the City of Salem conducts a bald eagle nest monitoring program each year. This program is staffed by volunteers who track nest success and monitor potential impacts from public use of the area.

Phase Activity