Marion County Naturalist Marla Mertz talks about Eagles as they make their nests to lay eggs as early as February or March. 

There seems to be some discrepancy on who may be the earliest nesters in Iowa, the owl, or the bald eagle.

Eagles are considered prolific nest builders, possibly building more than one nest within their territory, but that territory only holds one breeding pair. One nest may be used for a year but then another may become the chosen nest site the following year. 

Stick carrying and additions to a nest usually begin in late fall and continue into early spring. If you ever observe the building of an eagle’s nest, they can easily transform into a very massive piece of real estate seemingly overnight. Nests can be seven feet wide and up to ten feet deep.