Once again eagles have returned to nest near PPL’s Holtwood hydroelectric plant in southeastern Pennsylvania.

A nest located on a transmission tower near the Holtwood plant has been home to a pair of bald eagles since 2000. The eagles first came to the area in 1999, but used a different nesting spot that year. Since then, they have produced 17 babies.

"Eagles look for undisturbed trees, open water and an ample supply of fresh fish when choosing an area for a nest," said Jim Smith, PPL consulting naturalist at Holtwood Environmental Preserve. "They often return to the area where they were fledged.

"These majestic birds can weigh up to 14 pounds and have a wingspan up to 7 feet. They can spot a fish from 200 feet in the air," Smith added. "A student from Cecil County Community College in Maryland, Theresa Sampson, managed to photograph the male eagle from the Holtwood nest carrying a fully grown gizzard shad. This fish, a member of the herring family, makes up about 80 percent of the diet for these eagles, since it is so abundant in the pools below the dam."

If you’d like a chance to see the eagles, join Smith for an eagle watch Saturday, April 8, at 10 a.m. Meet at the Lock 12 Historic Area off Route 372 near the Norman Wood Bridge on the York County side of the Susquehanna River. Bring binoculars and dress for outdoor weather.

You also can keep up with the activities of the eagles online. Each week or so, the home page for the Holtwood Environmental Preserve has new photos and progress reports about the eagles. Click here to see the latest eagle report.

"Through the eagle watches and the Web site, PPL educates the public about the bald eagle, an endangered species that has made an amazing recovery. It also provides the opportunity for PPL to demonstrate its environmental stewardship and the Holtwood Environmental Preserve facility," said Mark Arbogast, assistant superintendent-Environmental Preserves.