Carillon Historical Park is temporarily closed during the coronavirus pandemic, so Weller and other eagle watchers are keeping an eye on the nest with telephoto lenses from Carillon Boulevard.
Though his vantage point is further away than past years, the frequency of Orv and Willa’s flights for food are clues to what is happening in the nest.
The eagle parents have been taking turns making numerous trips to and from the nest with food so most likely they have two eaglets, Weller said.
It will be another couple of weeks before they are large and strong enough to move toward the edge and pop their heads above the nest.
At this stage, the eaglets are covered in a white down and are not able to regulate their body temperature, Weller said. “It’s crucial for mom and dad to stay on them to keep them warm and keep them from getting sunburned on sunny days.”
Though the park is closed, the grassy lawn surrounding Deeds Carillon is a good spot for a picnic and afternoon of eagle watching, Weller said. Orv and Willa can be seen flying toward the Great Miami River and past the bell tower in the direction of the University of Dayton Research Institute.
The eagle population is growing in the Dayton area and Weller would like to remind the community that it is crucial not to disturb nesting eagles. Orv and Willa have become accustomed to people watching them, but other eagles in the area perceive people as a threat.
Jim and Hope, a pair of eagles nesting near Eastwood MetroPark, are also feeding babies in a nest that has been active since 2011, according to Weller. During that time 18 eaglets have fledged.
“It’s a thrill to see the population continue to reproduce,” Weller said. “We are seeing more young adult eagles in the area this year, so I suspect in the next year or two we will have another nest nearby.”
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