THEMARICOPAMOD.COM / WEATHER & ENVIRONMENT

Bald & Beautiful: An American icon beats the odds and learns to fly again

Arizona has recorded the highest number of eagle eggs and nesting sites in its history.

PUBLISHED NOV 16, 2024

Arizona’s bald eagle population now includes approximately 180 active breeding pairs.

Phoenix, Arizona: Good news, the bald eagle population in Arizona is thriving, reaching unprecedented levels thanks to decades of conservation efforts. The state has recorded the highest number of eagle eggs and nesting sites in its history, marking a significant victory for wildlife conservationists.

Kenneth 'Tuk' Jacobson, Arizona Game & Fish Raptor Management Coordinator and a member of the monitoring crew, highlighted the progress during a visit to the Tonto National Forest near the Lower Verde River, just outside the Phoenix metro area.

“We’re seeing them expand into new territories, which is a wonderful sign,” Bailey told Arizona's Family.

During the visit, the team spotted several eagles, including one perched above its nest. The densest concentration of nesting sites lies just outside Phoenix.

Bald eagles were once listed as an endangered species for nearly four decades, a designation lifted in 2007. However, their recovery has been far from simple. Conservationists like Jacobson attribute their success to long-term efforts to protect and nurture the species.

A bald eagle populates Croons Lake on September 12, 2024 in Massapequa, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

“A huge part of this is the decades of management we’ve put into protecting these birds,” Bailey told the network. “We’ve rescued and reintroduced over 100 eagles that might not have survived otherwise.”

Arizona’s bald eagle population now includes approximately 180 active breeding pairs, a record for the state. These eagles laid 119 eggs in 2023, breaking the previous record of 104 set in 2022.

The public plays a critical role in preserving the bald eagle population. Signs posted near nesting areas serve as reminders to hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to keep their distance.

“If you’re near a nest and the birds are vocalizing or flying around, you’re too close,” Bailey warned. “Give them space and enjoy the view from afar.”

As of 2020, the US Fish and Wildlife Service estimated approximately 316,700 individual bald eagles, including 71,400 nesting pairs, in the contiguous United States. Home to the largest population, Alaska hosts between 100,000 to 150,000 bald eagles, with about 30,000 breeding pairs.

In the early 1960s, the bald eagle population in the contiguous United States had dwindled to about 417 known nesting pairs, primarily due to habitat loss, hunting, and the detrimental effects of the pesticide DDT. Following the ban on DDT in 1972 and concerted conservation efforts, the population has rebounded significantly.

In August 2024, the US Senate passed a bill officially designating the bald eagle as America's national bird, formalizing its symbolic status 242 years after it first appeared on the Great Seal of the United States.

While the bald eagle was removed from the federal list of endangered species in 2007, it remains protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These laws prohibit the killing, selling, or harming of eagles, their nests, or eggs.