The action is picking up around the old eagle nest.
The stars of the Richmond Eagle Cam have begun to mate, and that means it should be just a week or two before the mother starts laying eggs.
The camera caught the two bald eagles mating Friday evening and Sunday morning. The birds should continue to mate over the next several days, said Libby Mojica, a wildlife biologist with the Center for Conservation Biology.
Before long, the mother will start standing in the nest for hours at a time.
"Once her behavior shifts where she is spending more time in the nest, just standing there, then that's when we'll know she's getting ready to lay the first egg," Mojica said.
Eagles typically lay one to three eggs, with about three days passing between eggs.
Meanwhile, nearly 200 eagle fans had suggested names for the two birds through Monday afternoon. The suggestion period began Sunday.
You can suggest names through Thursday by emailing rspringston@timesdispatch.com. Include your name, telephone number and the locality where you live.
The Times-Dispatch will announce five finalists Friday on TimesDispatch.com. Then you can choose the winning names in an online poll through Feb. 9. Winners will officially be announced online Feb. 10.
The Richmond Eagle Cam is a project of The Times-Dispatch and the center, which is part of Virginia Commonwealth University and the College of William and Mary.
Rex Springston writes for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
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