By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

Nest update! I’m pleased to report that this morning, I was able to confirm that the nest site that I found a few days ago at Jordan Lake is indeed a brand new Bald Eagle aerie.
I watched the pair for a little over an hour as they moved in and out of the nest before one took off and flew out of sight (to hunt I suppose). The remaining bird ended up sitting on a bare branch preening in the sun till his mate returned.

Bald Eagles lay between 1-3 eggs per clutch but I don’t believe this hen has laid their eggs yet due to her behavior at (and away from) the nest.
When the time comes, their eggs will be laid about 3 days apart, with incubation beginning with the laying of the first egg.
This offers full protection to the entire clutch from predators and to ensure that the eggs don’t hatch at the same time.

Each individual egg takes 35 days of incubation — give or take a few hours which means that the chicks will hatch 3 days apart.
This odd laying pattern is to facilitate the success of the healthy development of at the very least, one Bald Eagle chick. When prey is scarce, the strongest of the brood (usually the first hatched) will end up eating most or all of the food due to its 3 day growth / strength advantage over its siblings.
Sadly, this means that in leaner times, 1 or 2 of the chicks per brood will not make it to fledge status. In times where prey is plentiful, all of the chicks will have a good chance of survival under the care of their parents.

Luckily, the food supply here at Jordan Lake seems to be plentiful which lends itself to higher rates of success of the number of eaglets growing into adulthood here in this special place.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds