PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – All eyes are on Pittsburgh’s iconic Hays bald eagles, and anxiety is high as their biggest fans wait to see if the majestic pair rebuilds their nest that collapsed during a storm last year.

The Hays eagles usually welcome new eggs in their nest in mid-February. Many people are wondering if they will reconstruct their nest in time for the upcoming breeding season. 

But with time running out for the birds, the experts are seeing new signs of hope.

“We’ve been seeing a lot of activity with the pair on the hillside within the last couple of weeks, which is a really good sign that there could be potential nesting,” said Bill Powers, president and owner of PixCams Inc. 

The eagles have been seen chasing away intruders on the live-streamed nest camera that’s provided by PixCams and the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania.

A few days ago, the eagle pair was seen on camera chasing a young eagle perched on their tree. 

“Typically, they wouldn’t have this territorial behavior unless they were thinking about nesting because they wouldn’t put that energy into protecting that site from potential fishing or other birds being in that area,” Powers said. 

He said they’re even listening for the majestic birds with a new tool called BirdNET-Pi, which allows them to pick up eagle call detections.

“It lets us actually look at the audio signals and identify what the species are. We’re getting ticks of the eagles’ chatter that we can’t actually see on the camera, which really helps us to know that they’re there,” Powers said.

He said the tool has recorded bald eagles making noise in the evening.

“We’re seeing these nighttime calls, which are a really good sign because we’re seeing the eagles are actually roosting near where this nest tree is and they’re roosting in a pair. So, that shows us there was this pair bonding is actually starting,” said Powers. 

Bald eagles have been nesting in Pittsburgh’s Hays neighborhood since 2013, with 20 eaglets taking flight.

It’s the fifth time the birds have had to build a new nest. Rachel Handel with the Audubon Society said they have faith in them.

“When the nest fell back in 2016, they rebuilt in three days. So, they have a history of being able to pull together a nest very quickly if they need to. We could really be seeing something pretty exciting happening very soon. Generally, these birds lay eggs in mid-February,” Handel said. 

“We’re going to be looking for mating. We’re going to be looking for bonding rituals. And one of those rituals is nest building,” she added. 

The hope is that the beloved eagles don’t soar in another director. 

“Our hope is that if they don’t build in that tree, they’ll at least be close,” Handel said.

No matter what happens, it’s too late to move the PixCam camera from its current location. 

“We’re just hopeful it’s going to be in the tree or where we can see it. And if not, we move it next year to where the new location would be,” Powers said. 

After a brutal start to the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have turned things around and put themselves right back into the thick of the playoff race. Before finding themselves tied for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, it seemed like the Penguins were ready to make quite a few big trades ahead of the deadline.

While obvious names weren’t going anywhere, the Penguins may have to shift their outlook on deals as they keep stacking wins. According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, the Penguins are open to making moves all over the lineup, but for certain targets.

“I look at Pittsburgh, the GM there, Kyle Dubas, has let everybody know that he still wants to get younger,” Friedman said. “He’s got defensemen, he’s got goalies, he’s got forwards, he’s got a bit of cap room. He’ll take a contract that you want to move, he’ll consider it as long as you give him something he wants.”

It’s not a new thing that Dubas and the Penguins have their eyes on a certain type of player, and it’s been clear since the offseason. The Penguins want to add young players who may just need a change of scenery to really reach their full potential.

Adding Cody Glass in the offseason was the first sign, before signing Anthony Beauvillier, and eventually trading for Phil Tomasino. Low-risk, high-reward pieces that can help the Penguins win now and possibly play a role on a successful team in the future.

“He prefers the Tomasino’s of the world,” Friedman said about Dubas. “Young players who are either in the NHL or ready to play in the NHL who need something a little different.”

Currently out with an injury, but Tomasino has scored four goals and three assists in 16 games with the Penguins this year. Beauvillier has 12 points in 42 games played and has been able to contribute all over the lineup. Glass has also delt with injuries, but has nine points in 30 games.

The Penguins have an 18-17-8 record for 44 standings points, tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card spot.

Names like Ryan Graves, Tristan Jarry, and Marcus Pettersson are all likely on the Penguins trade block as they look to take swings ahead of the deadline. The Penguins have certain targets in mind, and it sounds like they are open for business.

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