Bald eagles

Leblanc said bald eagles are usually attracted to large bodies of water with an abundant food source, such as Lake Woodlands. He said the eagles likely consume 70–80 percent catfish during their time in the community based on the catfish remains found near the nest.

Despite development and activity in the community, he said bald eagles are not as afraid of urbanized areas as they may have been decades ago.

"Younger generations of bald eagles are much more urbanized and less sensitive to human activity," he said. "They used to be considered shy, but that's just not the case anymore. In Florida and Texas, they're showing up in backyards and places that are highly occupied by humans."

This year's nest is the fourth the eagles have crafted since first picking Lake Woodlands as a nesting site, Leblanc said, with the last nest about 300 feet to the west of their current location. Bald eagles were listed on the endangered species list in 1999 and are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Leblanc said the Development Company respects the animals and takes the law seriously. The developer provides a 3-acre boundary around the nesting site where they will not develop between May 1 and Oct. 1 during the birds' nesting period.

"We set aside land around the nest to make sure we don't do anything to harm the nest, and it's working, because they've been very successful in raising their young," he said.

Although eagles mate for life, Leblanc said it is hard to tell whether this is the same pair of eagles from 1999 because the animals look so similar. He said the average bald eagle lives 12-15 years in the wild.

"If it's the same pair, they're getting a little long in the tooth," he said.