Nests of a Bald Eagle

When a young pair of Bald Eagles wants to build a brand new nest, their first work is to find a place for it. They most likely prefer a territory close to water, where they can catch fish for their babies without wasting time flying back and forth a long distance, but in some areas may nest more than a few miles from fishing areas. In many parts of Alaska & northern Canada where trees are very scarce and short, eagles habitually nest on the ground. Therefore in the forested areas, they habitually choose one of the tallest trees in the area. If this is a "super-canopy" tree one sticking up above nearby trees the eagles can see all around, and also can fly into the nest without bonking their massive wings into branches.

Moreover in Canada and the northern and western states, several eagles always opt to select a coniferous tree-usually a pine, spruce, or fir. However in the eastern states, where big conifers may not be accessible in otherwise good habitat, eagles are more expected to nest in an oak, hickory, cottonwood, or other large leafy tree. Pairs habitually start a new nest in a living tree, though there’re often dead trees ("snags") neighboring where they have a view all around when they're resting close the nest. The healthier the tree it is the better. Well, Eagles normally use and keep adding sticks to their nests for years and years. Like a one well-studied Ohio nest was used for 34 years, until the tree lastly blew down. At times a tree with an eagle nest dies after several years. If the tree remains standing, then the eagles habitually remain there as long as their nest is safe. But the healthier the tree is to start with, the longer it will last.