A pair of bald eagles have settled down on Long Island.
The National Park Service said a ranger discovered two of the raptors nesting near the William Floyd Estate in Mastic on March 22. It’s thought to be the first time that the national emblem has taken roost at the sprawling estate since the 1930s and is among just a few documented instances of nesting bald eagles on Long Island in decades.
“As stewards of this National Park Unit, we are thrilled that bald eagles have returned to the William Floyd Estate,” said Chris Soller, the Superintendent of the Fire Island National Seashore.
It’s not clear if eagle chicks have hatched yet, though. The park service says that eagles begin nesting at about four of five years of age. Incubation usually begins in late winter and can take a little more than a month.
Park visitors hoping to get a look at the birds or their offspring may be out of luck. The park service said it is shutting down portions of the William Floyd Estate while the eagles nest. Visitors who encroach on prohibited areas could face a fine or jail.
The estate, which contains the ancestral home of Declaration of Independence signer William Floyd, opens to the public on May 2.
