Bald eagle nest in Philadelphia fails - AP

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Bald eagle nest in Philadelphia fails

Tue May 29, 5:07 PM ET

PHILADELPHIA - A bald eagle nest at the old Philadelphia
Navy Yard has failed, but birdwatchers are holding out hope
that the first pair of bald eagles spotted in the city in more
than 200 years will nest again next year.

After the nest was spotted in February, state officials began
keeping a close eye on the eagles in hopes that they would
breed. But birdwatchers and state officials say the eagles
haven't been spotted since April.

"We believe it is failed and that the birds are gone," said
Debbie Beer, a birder who spotted the eagles in February
and has been helping the state to monitor them. "I'm
hoping that they come back next year and nest again."

-snip-

Dan Brauning, wildlife diversity supervisor for the state Game
Commission, said the birds could still be nearby.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070529/ap_on_sc/bald_eagles

[mama]

1. Sometimes, the young eagles build a nest before they're ready

and don't produce eggs. Kind of a practice run. It happened to us here on the Cuyahoga River south of Cleveland. We watched them build the nest and were very disappointed when they didn't use it. But they came back to the area this year and have a successful nest. Hopefully that will happen for Philadelphia too.

[dbackjon]

2. Yup

With many larger birds, it takes several attempts to get it right.