Convenience Big Store: Bald eagles have lived in The Woodlands' growing urban core for 25 years

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The Woodlands has been home to 2 bald eagles for 25 years. Why more are coming to urban areas.

A pair of bald eagles have now been nesting in The Woodlands for half of its existence.

If you've lived in The Woodlands for awhile now, there's a good chance you've seen or heard of the majestic national symbol frequenting Lake Woodlands' eastern shoreline. They began attracting crowds soon after their existence was first reported in 1999 and have since gained the admiration of residents, wildlife photographers and developers.

Ever since DDT was banned in 1972, the once-endangered eagles have made a big comeback. But until those Woodlands eagles made a home in the up-and-coming East Shore neighborhood, it was thought that bald eagles wouldn't nest close to people, nature columnist Gary Clark said.

Thanks to involved residents, collaborative developers and crowdsourcing websites like iNaturalist, bald eagles have begun nesting comfortably in neighborhoods and urban areas from Hughes Landing to the University of Houston.

Learn more about the famous pair of eagles and check out a cool nest map from Ken Ellis here.

What are your favorite wildlife species that call The Woodlands home? Let me know at claire.partain@houstonchronicle.com.

Claire Partain, Suburban reporter producer

Claire.Partain@houstonchronicle.com

Growing Woodlands

The Woodlands Township opened its newly-covered 15,000 square foot multipurpose courts in April at Bear Branch Park.

Photo by: The Woodlands Township

Futsal is growing in The Woodlands thanks to this newly-covered court

The Woodlands residents can now try their hand at pickleball, futsal or hockey rain or shine at a newly-covered 15,000 square-foot multipurpose court at Bear Branch Park.

Need to Know

A man evading a traffic stop was shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire with Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies Sunday, April 14 in north Harris County, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Photo by: Houston Chronicle

Fetus found in urn floating in Woodlands pond, authorities say

A Woodlands Township Park Ranger found a human fetus inside a small urn floating in a pond Tuesday, according to a news release from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Woodlands resident Mihai Vatca, left, is pictured with Woodlands Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director Darryl Bayer, right. Born in Romania, Vatca is currently adjunct professor of piano at Sam Houston State University and serves as pianist at Christ Church United Methodist in The Woodlands. Vatca will perform as a part of the symphony May 5 concert.

Photo by: Photo Courtesy The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra

Woodlands symphony to celebrate 150 years of 'Pictures at an Exhibition'

The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra will perform Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" during its May 5 concert.

As residents of The Woodlands hit the trails this spring, so too do the 18 snake species that call the community home. It's snake season in Texas, and every few hours, members of the Snakes of The Woodlands Facebook group are posting new snake sightings in ponds, trails and yards across the township.

Openings and Closings

Turkish food has come to The Woodlands!

The new Loqum Grill Mediterranean in College Park looks like it serves up a great traditional Turkish breakfast. Yum!

Shout out

The Woodlands fired a scintillating round of 9-under-par to claim the Region II-6A boys golf championship Tuesday in Waco, Jon Poorman writes. Congrats!