Something shifted at the Fort St. Vrain nest this week. Not just the wind over the river. Not just the soft layering of grasses in the bowl of sticks. On February 23, 2026, Ma Vrain laid her first egg of the season.
In the quiet hours of early morning on February 1, 2026, the Decorah North nest was wrapped in stillness. Both the male and female bald eagles were asleep in their nest tree, perched calmly as the night carried on without disturbance. Then, out of the darkness, an unexpected nighttime encounter unfolded.