Army Ammunition Plant Holston River Kingsport, TN Hawkins County The upper Holston River region's only BALD EAGLE nest was destroyed during a devastating windstorm last month. According to Bruce Cole, a natural resources biologist with the facilty, a 50 mph windstorm struck the plant property on April 3 (a Sunday night) and ripped away one of three prongs of the tall sycamore nesting tree. An estimated 2/3 of the nest fell from the tree. A storm which followed a few days later brought down the remainder. It is believed that the nest contained one eaglet. No young or traces were located. The adults remain in the area and were seen in the vicinity of the nest by a member of the security force as late as last week . The nest was located on Clay Island in the Holston River between river Mile Point 138-139 (36.5254°N, 82.6527°W), fully within the security area of the fenced plant property. Cole said the nest was built in the tallest tree around. It easily towered 20-30 feet above any other. He estimated the nest to be about four feet in diameter. Cole said the eagles had expanded the nest by about double its 1995 size. It was much deeper and his usual hillside viewing spot did not allow him to observe as much about the contents as he did last year. Incubation was steady as usual until about four or five days before the storm. Then the adult was up from the nest and perching nearby, suggesting that whatever eggs may had hatched. He felt that he had confirmed at least one young due to that behavior. He had observed food items had fallen from the nest as would be expected and were seen beneath the tree. This was possible indication that one or more young were being fed. Scavengers may have visited the area to feed on the items and that could explain why there was no remains of any young. Let's go birding...... Wallace Coffey Bristol, TN