Two hawks have begun building a large nest at the top of one of the towers of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad bridge across the Ballard Locks.

A resident in the apartments across the street from the bridge said the birds have been carrying large sticks to the top of the tower. They are having a difficult time building the nest because the sticks keep falling, the resident said.

Gus Melonas, spokesperson for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railraod, said bridge operators have been observing the birds with binoculars and determined that they are hawks.

The nest has been under construction for two weeks with the female bringing in sticks and the male guarding the nest, Melonas said.

The 42-feet-high bridge was build in 1913 for the Burlington Northern Railroad.