As spring nears in Kent, the nesting pairs of eagles known as the Riverbend Eagles are back in town.
Three nests have been located between Orillia Road and the city of Kent Riverbend Golf Complex by Julene Bailie and the Fellow Eagle Watchers, an informal team of like-minded individuals that locally watch the eagles and other birds.
“We know there are more nests nearby, in Renton, Auburn and Covington, but are focused on these three nests in and near Kent, and one near the Maplewood Golf Course (in Renton) for now,” Bailie said in a Feb. 16 email.
Bailie has been watching the Riverbend Eagle nest, located behind the Riverbend Golf Course and across from the City of Kent Maintenance Operations facility at Russell Road and South 240th Street, since 2014 when she saw her first eaglets in the nest. Her mentor, Ralph M., had a camera focused on the nest.
“The eaglets just capture your attention and you can’t help but watch them grow up in the nest,” Bailie said.
Bailie was so obsessed with watching the eagles that she bought a camera and published four children’s books about the Riverbend Eagles. While there are many nest cams available, Bailie said she prefers to see the eagles in person. However, she said she learned a lot about eagle and eaglet behavior by watching the online nest cams.
According to Bailie, since 2014, there have been five successful nesting seasons near Riverbend, resulting in nine eaglets that successfully left the nest.
“We are heading into the 2024 eagle nesting season, so have been watching the eagles nest building, bonding, and hunting together in their territory, which ranges about 2 miles in and around the nest area,” Bailie said. “We’ve seen the eagles at the wetlands behind Blue Origin on 72nd Avenue South, on the Riverbend Golf Course driving range poles and in the Green River Natural Resource Area on the power towers. They also sit in the trees along the Green River.”
Eagles in this area typically lay their eggs in March. They incubate for 35 days, and then live in the nest for 11 to 12 weeks, Bailie said.
Bailie said you will probably notice photographers and others watching the Riverbend Eagles as we head into this nesting season.
“We look forward to this time each year, as it is a sure sign that spring is right around the corner,” she said.
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Eagles sit on the power line wires along the Interurban Trail in Kent between Blue Origin and the 72nd Avenue wetlands.COURTESY PHOTO, Julene Bailie
