BISMARCK, N.D. (NDG&F) – The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is asking for help locating active bald eagle nests.

Conservation biologist Sandra Johnson said the department is looking for locations of nests with eagles present, not individual eagle sightings.

Eagles lay eggs in early to mid-March, which hatch about a month later. Johnson said it’s easy to distinguish an eagle nest because of its enormous size.

Nearly 300 active bald eagle nests can be found in more than three-quarters of the counties in the state. Historically, Johnson said nests were found along river corridors, but that’s not the case today.

“Bald eagles have proven to be quite adaptable and will nest in trees out in the middle of pastures, fields or anywhere they’ve got a food source nearby,” she said.

Nest observations should be reported online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. Observers are asked not to disturb the nest, and to stay a safe distance away. Johnson said foot traffic may disturb the bird, likely causing the eagle to leave her eggs or young unattended.