OHIO OUTDOOR NOTEBOOK

“Who’s that sleeping in my bed?” 
Animal version of Trading Spaces makes for surprising wildlife viewing

The goose nest tub is situated only a few feet above the surface of the water.

This Killdeer Plains nesting pair is inclubating at least one egg.

Bald Eagle Timeline 1782 Bald eagle adopted as National Symbol 1811 First formally recorded for Ohio 1882 Described as a common resident in Ohio 1918 Passage of Migratory Bird Treaty Act 1924 First formally studied in Ohio 1940 Passage of Eagle Protection Act 1959 First comprehensive record keeping 1963 National low of 417 breeding pairs in lower 48 states 1967 First officially declared an endangered species 1973 Passage of Endangered Species Act; eagle first species listed 1975 Ohio's population reached low of four pairs 1979 Ohio Bald Eagle Restoration Program, first eaglets fostered 1988 Eagle Nest Monitoring Program established 1992 Reached goal of 20 Ohio nesting pair 1995 Federally reclassified to "threatened" 2002 Record number of Ohio fledglings (107) 2003 Record number of Ohio breeding pairs for 15th consecutive year 2004 25th Anniversary of Ohio's Bald Eagle Restoration Program

A Wisconsin black bear recently made the news when wildlife biologists discovered it hibernating far above ground in an eagle’s nest – a most unusual perch for a sleeping 150-pound bear.  The nest’s rightful owners, a pair of bald eagles, were forced to play Goldilocks and hang around impatiently until the bear woke from his long winter’s nap.

Closer to home, two Ohio bald eagles have decided to set up housekeeping in an equally unlikely spot: on a fiberglass structure known as a goose nest tub. Intended for nesting Canada geese, a goose tub is a 12- to 18-inch-deep bowl, perched on poles in a pond or marsh and sitting little more than four feet from the water’s surface.

That’s a fine home for a goose, but what makes this low-lying eagle’s nest so amazing? Mark Shieldcastle, lead eagle biologist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, explains that bald eagles build their nests in mature trees, such as cottonwoods, some 40 or more feet off the ground.

“While eagles generally locate their nests near a stream or lake, having a pair of eagles build a nest on a structure this close to the water’s surface is unprecedented in Ohio,” said Shieldcastle.

Making the situation even more intriguing, he said, these first-time nesters appear to be incubating at least one egg!

This down-to-earth eagle’s nest was discovered in late March at the Killdeer Plains State Wildlife Area in Wyandot County, said Tim Plageman, state wildlife management supervisor for northwestern Ohio.  Anchored deeply in the pond and mounted securely to its posts, Plageman said the goose pot’s artificial structure is sturdy enough to hold a 200-pound man.

Shieldcastle says he has no idea of what to expect from this pair’s extraordinary choice of nesting sites. “Given the location and fact that these eagles are first-year nesters means we have a lot of unknowns, including how these birds will respond to disturbances,” noted Shieldcastle.

Wildlife enthusiasts are welcome to view the new nest, but must stay in the Killdeer Plains parking area adjacent to Pond 3, roughly one-quarter mile from the nesting site. “This is an endangered species nesting area and we want to avoid the possibility of disturbing these eagles,” said Plageman. He recommends visitors bring binoculars, but added that a spotting scope will provide the best viewing opportunity.

While the nest at Killdeer Plains is certainly one of the most interesting, it isn’t the only one in the state.  In fact, this year Ohio has reached a modern-day milestone, recording 103 bald eagle’s nests. Not bad when less than 30 years ago only four breeding pairs of eagles remained in the state. Ironically, this nest-with-a-twist and the milestone both come as the ODNR Division of Wildlife observes the 25^th Anniversary of Ohio’s Bald Eagle Restoration Program.

So what lies ahead for this goose-tub eagle’s nest? First, the incubation period for bald eagle eggs is 35 days. Therefore, by the end of April or perhaps early May, it should be known whether any eaglets successfully hatched in this nest. If that proves true, then there’s another 72-75 days the offspring must survive before they are strong enough to leave the nest.

Other questions remain that only time can answer, such as:

• Since bald eagles frequently reuse the same nest year after year, will this current pair return to the goose tub?
• If one or two eagles do successfully fledge this nest, will their instincts guide them as adults to nest in a setting similar to the one in which they were raised?

Stay tuned, as Ohio’s own wildlife Trading Spaces saga unfolds!

Directions to the bald eagle’s nest viewing:  In Wyandot County, take State Route 294 west from U.S. Route 23 for six miles. Turn left (south) onto Wyandot County Road T.H. 107 for one mile, then turn right (west) on C.H. 71 for one mile to T.H. 123. Turn left on T.H. 123 (south) one-half mile to the Pond 3 parking area on the Killdeer Plains State Wildlife Area.