How the Hays Bald Eagles Fooled Us All

For months, we watched and waited. Would the beloved Hays bald eagle pair rebuild after their nest tree blew down last year? Would they return to their territory at all? Our cameras stayed fixed on the old nest site along the Monongahela River, just in case. But as winter turned to spring, the eagles didn’t return—and silence settled in.

Or so we thought.

In a stunning surprise, it was revealed in mid-April that the Hays bald eagles had secretly built a new nest in a nearby wooded area in Glen Hazel—and not only that, they had already successfully hatched two eaglets. While we and many other eagle watchers were staring at an empty branch, the eagles were quietly raising a new generation just a short distance away.

A Well-Kept Secret

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, eagle enthusiasts discovered the new nest only after hearing vocalizations and spotting adult activity across the river near Sandcastle. The CBS News Pittsburgh team later confirmed it—the Hays pair had moved to Glen Hazel, and their nest was already home to two healthy eaglets.

It’s remarkable. Despite being among the most watched bald eagle pairs in Pennsylvania—and one of the first to nest successfully in Pittsburgh’s urban core in decades—they managed to keep their new home hidden for the entire nesting season.

How Did We All Miss It?

At PixCams, we pride ourselves on helping people connect with wildlife through live streaming cameras. Along with countless eagle fans, we were focused on the original Hays site, hoping for signs of nest rebuilding. We even used acoustic monitoring with BirdNET-Pi to listen for eagle vocalizations—but this time, nature had other plans.

The move to Glen Hazel shows just how stealthy and adaptable bald eagles can be. The new nest is farther from human foot traffic and not visible from public trails, which may have made it an ideal location for the pair to nest in peace.

Hays Mom Feeding 2 Eaglets 4/27/2025 in the New Glenn Hazel Nest!

A Shift from Public to Private

The original Hays nest was a symbol of coexistence—bald eagles raising young right in view of passing bikers, walkers, and school groups. It inspired a generation of urban nature lovers and made headlines year after year. But the new nest reflects something different: a quiet return to privacy.

It’s a humbling reminder that, even in the age of live streams and high-tech monitoring, wildlife sometimes chooses to stay just out of reach.

What Happens Next?

At this point, the new nest isn’t accessible for camera placement, and it’s unclear whether the public will ever get the same kind of up-close view we had at the original site. And maybe that’s okay. However, we are establishing new relationships and new partners, and our hopes and goals are to be broadcasting this new nest location to you next season.

For now, we can celebrate the fact that the Hays bald eagles are still thriving in Pittsburgh. They’re adapting, surviving, and continuing their legacy—even if we’re not watching every moment.

A Reminder of Why We Watch

At PixCams, we understand that our connection to wildlife goes beyond pixels on a screen. These animals remind us of the power, beauty, and unpredictability of nature. Even when they vanish from view, they’re still living their stories—and sometimes, those stories are even more powerful when they unfold in secret.

Congratulations to the Hays pair and their two new eaglets. You fooled us—but we’re still cheering you on.