A pair of bald eagles has returned to Cuyahoga Valley National Park to nest/Jim Kaftan via NPS

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, love appears to be in the air at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

A pair of bald eagles has returned to the Ohio park and is actively tending to its nest within the Pinery Narrows area. To protect the eagles from human disturbance, the area surrounding the nest tree will be closed until July 31.

The Pinery Narrows area is north of Station Road Bridge Trailhead in Brecksville, Ohio. Park staff say the "railroad tracks and a 30-foot right-of-way on either side of the tracks are closed to all pedestrian traffic from the State Route 82 bridge north to the Fitzwater Maintenance Yard for Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, bridle trail and Cuyahoga River will remain open. However, the closure area may be expanded if needed to protect the eagles."

Bald eagles returned to the Cuyahoga Valley in 2006, after an absence of 70 years. They have nested in the Pinery Narrows every year since then. Their 2015 nest was not successful.

In late winter, eagles lay one to three eggs that are incubated for approximately 35 days. Eagles must remain on the nest constantly, as their eggs are extremely sensitive to cold temperatures, according to the Park Service. As a result, human disturbance can disrupt this constant care, jeopardizing nesting success. Although recently removed from the Endangered Species List, the bald eagle is still protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Both federal laws prohibit taking, killing, selling or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.