Bald Eagles Thrive at Lake Pleasant: Nest Monitoring Success Story

Nestled along Lake Pleasant's cliffs, bald eagle hatchlings reach 5 weeks, ready to be banded and measured.

May 11, 2025

Exploring Lake Pleasant: A Haven for Bald Eagles

Perched on the cliffs around Lake Pleasant, the majestic bald eagle finds its sanctuary. This iconic bird, revered as “America’s favorite,” is thriving in this region, with several active nests dotting the landscape. Recently, these nests have become the focal point for conservationists as eaglets reach the critical age for banding and measurement.

Raptor management coordinator Kenneth ‘Tuk’ Jacobson from the Arizona Game and Fish Department explains, “They’re old enough that they thermoregulate and they don’t have to have the adults protecting them in the nest. They’re also young enough that they haven’t quite figured out that they’re eagles, so they don’t want to jump on us.”

To observe and care for these young eagles, specialists from AZGFD and the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee embarked on a journey across the lake. Their efforts involved carefully hiking the rugged terrain to reach the eaglets, with the path marked by cactuses and loose rocks.

Alexis Heichman/Cronkite News

Bald eagle nest watchers from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee check a nest at Lake Pleasant on March 31, 2025, in Peoria.

“Eagles do not put their nests in the easiest places to get to,” Jacobson remarked, highlighting the challenges faced during the expedition. Despite the difficulties, the experience of working with these birds is immensely rewarding.

Kyle McCarthy, AZGFD Eagle Field Project Manager, rappelled down to retrieve three eaglets while a vigilant parent eagle circled above. To ensure safety, the eaglets’ talons were covered with booties, and falconry hoods were used to calm them before they were gently transported for further examination.

Bald eagle nest watchers from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee check a nest at Lake Pleasant on March 31, 2025, in Peoria.

Once hoisted up, the eaglets were banded by Jennifer Presler and Kenneth Jacobson to facilitate tracking and research. The team conducted various health assessments, with Griffin Lay and Audrey Jordon ensuring the eaglets remained calm and still.

These dedicated nest watchers have been diligently observing the eaglets’ development since the eggs hatched in February. Working in shifts, they provide valuable data on the local bald eagle population and help raise public awareness about conservation efforts.

Once on the brink of extinction in the 1960s, the bald eagle population has made a remarkable recovery. Jacobson noted, “With all the conservation efforts making nest sites as productive as possible, we’ve been able to help see this bald eagle population grow immensely. Nationwide, the bald eagle population has grown at about a 10% rate.”

For those interested in witnessing these eagles in their natural habitat, Jacobson suggests using binoculars to observe from a distance and to let the eagles thrive without interference. “We spent a lot of work breeding this population up from 25 nests in the late 1970s to the 100 or so nests we have now” in Arizona, he added. “We want to make sure this population is as robust and stable as possible.”

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