In early May, 2026, our dedicated bird observers discovered that the Haul Road Trail bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nest, which had two eaglets this spring, had partially collapsed.

          About half of the nest remained. National Park Service staff said they did not suspect foul play.

          One of our volunteers found an adult sitting in the remnant of the nest and a fully-grown young sitting on a branch near the adult. He did not see the second young that others had seen earlier. During the week of May 18, observers saw one young perched on a tree branch and this one appeared to be begging for food. Many assume that the second young eagle perished, unfortunately. Young eagles in Northern Virginia usually fledge between May 25 and June 5.

An adult bald eagle on May 17, 2026.  Photo by Dixie Sommers

A juvenile bald eagle, the one likely surviving eagle from the Haul Road Trail nest, on May 20. Photo by Dixie Sommers

This juvenile bald eagle appeared to be begging for food on May 20, 2026. Photo by Glenda Booth

The bald eagle nest near the Haul Road Trail has attracted many observers. Photo by Glenda Booth

A History, Courtesy of Larry Cartwright

          For the past seven years, many people have been captivated by the bald eagles’ activity on and around this nest. In the winter, with no leaves on the trees, the nest and the eagles’ activities are very visible and people line the trail with their binoculars and spotting scopes at the ready.
         Our breeding bird survey leader for over 30 years, Larry Cartwright, wrote, “The seemingly first-time breeding pair built the Haul Road nest in the middle of the summer of 2018 when everybody else was fledging young. By November, it appeared obvious that the male eagle was not familiar with basic avian reproductive biology.  He did not know how to copulate despite the numerous solicitation displays provided by the female. He just stood there for the longest period. Fast Forward. He finally got it.”

Larry has provided this reproductive history of the Haul Road bald eagle breeding pair:

2019-2020, fledged one young
2021-2022, fledged two young
2023-2025, fledged three young
2026, two nestlings, at least one still alive after nest collapse, as of May 20

Results: 15 fledged young in seven years.