Nature photographer Dennis LaVergne recently took this photo of two American bald eagles nesting in Shelby Township’s Holland Ponds Park.
By: Kara Szymanski | Shelby-Utica News | Published February 19, 2024
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Local nature photographers have recently spotted two American bald eagles nesting in Shelby Township’s Holland Ponds Park with possible eggs in the nest again.
Last year, the bald eagle nest was reported to the township by a local photographer on March 9, but township officials have seen photos from other photographers taken as early as March 5. This year, they have already been spotted.
Elizabeth Schultz, a nature center coordinator at the Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center, said a few pictures from photographer Dennis LaVergne captured the eagles.
“I have yet to confirm if it is the same pair as last year. We won’t know if they have eggs until late March, early April,” she said.
Eagle enthusiasts must keep their distance from the birds.
“The nature center would like to remind readers that they must enjoy the eagle nest from at least 450 feet away, with the best viewing spot on the Overlook Trail. This spot is over 800 feet away, so visitors will need to bring binoculars,” said Schultz.
It’s important that people follow all federal guidelines for viewing them in a way that won’t disturb them. This means staying more than 330 feet away and that drones are prohibited within 1,000 feet of the nest. If the eagles were to be disturbed and feel threatened, they could abandon the nest and young,
The eggs that the eagles were sitting on last year did not hatch.
Zac Polzin, assistant nature interpreter with the Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center, said it is possible that this is the same pair, but they were young the first time they were spotted, so that may be why the eggs didn’t hatch last year.
“If successful at rearing young, American bald eagles are known to remain monogamous and come back annually to the same nest. This was likely to them being a young pair and not sitting on them properly while fending off other eagles. They are still around, but we will have to wait until spring if they try again in the same location,” he said.
For questions regarding the eagles and how best to view them, contact the Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center at (586) 323-2478 during business hours or email naturecenter@shelbytwp.org. The Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center is located at 4101 River Bends Drive and is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays.