After Century-Long Absence, Bald Eagles Nest In NYC

It seems no one is impervious to the constant buzz around NYC’s ever-hotter real estate market — not even the feathered types among us. Audubon Magazine reports one trendsetting pair of bald eagles have taken up residence just off Staten Island, building the city’s first eagle nest in at least 100 years.

The publication says New York state is home to roughly 173 breeding pairs of bald eagles, though up until now, they’ve shown interest exclusively outside of the five boroughs. Is it the rent? The public school system? Can they just not hack it through those vertical turnstiles at certain subway stations (you’re not the only one, buddy)? The magazine notes that two bald eagles were spotted in the same vicinity last year, though the male of the pair at that time was not of breeding age, so perhaps they just needed some time to think the big move over.

Unlike other neighborhoods on the southern end of Brooklyn including Sheepshead Bay and Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst doesn’t seem to get a lot of rare bird sightings — that is, with the exception of storm birds like the over 20 varieties that cropped up following Hurricane Sandy.

The exact location of the eagles hasn’t been revealed for fear of poachers or other human disturbances, but we have to figure they’re not nesting too far off. Anybody spot these two soaring around recently, or any other unusual avian specimens for that matter?