Eagle on the nest

Late April put this pair well into their nesting cycle, tucked low into a massive stick nest built high in a sycamore’s mottled bark. Bald eagle nests are reused and added onto year after year, and can eventually weigh well over a ton.

Why it matters

A river with an active eagle nest is a sign of a healthy fish population and minimal human disturbance near the nest tree — eagles are sensitive to nearby activity, especially in the weeks before eggs hatch, so a nest that’s persisted for multiple seasons says something good about how this stretch of river is managed.

Getting the shot

Shot from a respectful distance with the 180-600mm rather than approaching the tree — getting close enough to flush a nesting eagle isn’t worth the photograph. The sycamore’s peeling bark pattern gave a distinctive backdrop even at a distance.