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Eagles' Nest Turns Up In An Unlikely Spot

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A pair of bald eagles decided to start building their nest in an unlikely spot—a cell phone tower in South Florida.

CBS4 used a drone to capture a bird's eye view of the nest perched atop a cellphone tower in North Miami-Dade.

"I noticed them about three months ago when I go outside I see them flying back and forth to build the nest," said Richard Kresge who spotted the eagles.

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People who work in the shopping plaza off US1 and 155TH Street where the birds decided to set up shop have spotted them swirling around the tower. Many have captured photos, documenting and watching as the nest gets bigger.

"When were out doing our smoking and grilling sometimes we see the eagle flying back and forth," said Feliciano Jones. "I'm very surprised because I never thought it would be in this type of area."

Aviation Biologist Donna Molfetto with the Patricia and Phillip Frost Science Museum said the nest is a rare sight.

"There's plenty of eagles in Central Florida because it's a little more agricultural and a little more natural there's big open spaces for them but Miami Dade is so urban," Molfetto said. "It's pretty cool that it's in an urban place like less than a quarter of Eagle nests are built on artificial structures and this particular artificial structure seems to be like a perfect platform for them."

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said they've only confirmed two bald eagle's nest this season and, while all nests aren't documented by the state, if the nest is completed it will be the fourth confirmed nest in the county since the 80s.

"Even though bald eagles were taken off the endangered species list in 2007-- they are still protected-- and it's illegal to harm or disturb them."

If the pair in North Dade isn't bothered and decide to stay, they could call that nest home for years to come.

"For eagles it's kind of late in their breeding season so I don't think they'll be breeding this year but they come back, they're very loyal to nest sites, so that nest can get to be over a ton in weight 13 feet wide, 8 feet deep. So they'll just keep coming back building on that nest and hopefully next year they'll lay some eggs but we can't rule out this year," said Molfetto.

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