Three days after Valentine's Day, a Pittsburgh couple added a potential new member to the family.
At 5:25 p.m. Friday, bald eagles nesting on a steep hillside overlooking the Monongahela River in Hays experienced the delivery of their first egg of 2023. Additional eggs are expected soon at Hays, with more to follow at the other known eagle nests in Allegheny County
The Hays eagles have been nesting on the same hillside near the Glenwood Bridge since 2013. During the final days of January, the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania witnessed mating activity via a live-streaming wildlife camera. The nest is among six active sites in Allegheny County. It's the only one located within Pittsburgh and is visible from the Three Rivers Heritage/Great Allegheny Passage trail, particularly before the sprouting of spring foliage.
Bald eagles become sexually mature at five years, when they grow the distinctive white-feathered head and tail.
"While the exact age of the Hays bald eagles is not known, they've been a breeding pair for 11 years, making them at least 16 years old," said Audubon spokeswoman Rachel Handel. Prior to 2023 the pair produced 24 eggs. "There's typically a 2- to 4-day span in between laying eggs. Last year, the Hays female laid three eggs: February 11, 14 and 17. All three eggs hatched and three eaglets fledged the nest."
Now that an egg is in the nest, the experienced parents are expected to change their behavior, said Ms. Handel.
An adult will remain in the nest at all times, incubating the egg. The parents will take turns egg-sitting, never leaving it unattended. When dad is off-duty, he'll often leave the site and return with food for mom, who generally stays nearby even when off the egg. Occasionally the adult warming and protecting the egg will stand and roll it, maintaining a constant temperature inside. When several eggs are in the nest, the parents brood the whole clutch in the same way.
Before the first hatching, the best time for eagle watchers to monitor the 24-hour live camera feed is when the eggs are being rolled.It can be found at https://pixcams.com/hays-bald-eagle-nest/
"When this occurs, the egg is visible in the nest bowl," said Ms. Handel. "The adult then lays back down over the egg to continue incubation."
Bald eagle eggs generally begin to hatch about 34 days after the first egg is laid.
Allegheny County's eagles came by choice as nests began appearing across the state about 12 years ago. In 2014, bald eagles were upgraded on Pennsylvania's wildlife conservation lists and now are given the same state protections as most self-sustaining wildlife. In most cases, a longstanding federal law continues to protect bald and golden eagles
That same year, views into the Hays nest bowl became possible when Murrysville-based PixCams, with state Game Commission approval, hung one of the first free-to-view live-streaming wildlife cameras above and far enough from the nest to not bother the birds. An upgraded camera streams live images to sites maintained by Audubon and PixCams.
Audubon's eagle page includes a message for parents and the particularly squeamish who might want to turn away during the ripping and tearing of mealtimes. "Viewer caution," it says. "This webcam shows live views of bald eagles in nature. Some content may not be suitable for all audiences."
At the U.S. Steel Irvin Works in West Mifflin, a live-streaming eagle-cam shows a bald eagle couple still waiting for their first egg of the year. Last year their birthing schedule ran about a week behind the nursery at Hays.
It is not known what's happening inside Allegheny County eagle nests without cameras that are located in Crescent, Harmar and above the GAP trail near Boston, Pa. A newly coupled eagle pair at North Park have not yet built a nest, as far as birdwatchers know.
