Bald Eagles Are Back at Manasquan Reservoir

HOWELL, NJ - Good news for winter 2017: The longtime male-female bald eagle pair at Manasquan Reservoir have begun incubating eggs. Those are the eagles, pictured above in a photo provided by the Monmouth County Parks System.

The bald eagle couple has been spotted at the reservoir for several years now and this winter, the pair began incubating eggs as of January 27, the Parks System announced.

The bald eagles are longtime residents of the reservoir. Locals have reported seeing them for years and farmers nearby say they often swoop down and catch critters from their fields. 22 baby eagles have been born at the Manasquan Reservoir since 2002. Sadly, last year was unsuccessful; the eagles abandoned their eggs after 28 days of incubation. But county park rangers are optimistic for 2017: If all goes well, hatching should be around the second week of March.

New Jersey’s bald eagle population has been steadily increasing, with 161 pairs of bald eagles spotted in 2015. That’s up from just one single nest in the early 1980s.

"The bald eagle pair at the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell has been busily building a new nest. They have been seen bringing material, arranging it and occasionally have disagreements on optimum placement of sticks," the park system wrote. "The nest is easily seen from Georgia Tavern Road and can be viewed on a television monitor inside the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, weather permitting."

Park experts suspect the nest failed last year because another adult eagle got too close. Humans getting too close can also cause the eagles to abandon the nest. So keep your distance.

A pair of bald eagles was also spotted last year nesting at Natco Lake in Hazlet.

Related Patch coverage:

Bald Eagles Spotted in Union Beach