New River Conservancy Director of Operations and Programs, Joe Johnson, recently discovered an active bald eagle nest on the South Fork!! We have been told this is the first documented active eagle nests on the New River in the High Country.
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Guy McGrane, who is associated with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, High Country Audubon, and eBird verified Joe’s observation and got photos of the nest. He got some photos but unfortunately the chick that popped its head up for a second didn’t make it into any of the pictures.
Eagles usually select a breeding area based on the things they are looking for: food, suitable nesting and perching trees, and isolation from excessive human activity. These areas are usually near where they themselves fledged as youngsters. Typical nest heights are 50-125 feet high and are about 6 feet across at the top, if not larger.
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Folks, please be on the lookout for eagle nests now that they are becoming more common in the mountains. Bryan Tompkins, biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, says “Stay at least 1,000 feet from the nest, using binoculars or a spotting scope to get a closer look; keep noise down; avoid sudden movements; and don’t flush a bird from its nest. Watch the bird, and if it reacts to your presence, you’re too close. It’s also very important to respect any restricted zones or private property around a bald eagle nest.”*
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Very exciting to see this conservation success story and type of resilience in the watershed. It is a testament to the efforts to keep the New River region clean and healthy.