Why the bald eagle population is doing so well in Arizona
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — America’s favorite bird is soaring high here in Arizona.
The bald eagle population is seeing record numbers, according to the annual report from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
“It’s absolutely great watching this population continually grow. They’re moving into more areas,” said Kenneth “Tuk” Jacobson, Arizona Game and Fish raptor management coordinator.
Jacobson is part of a crew that monitors every bald eagle nest across the state.
“The highest density of nesting happens just outside of Phoenix,” he said.
The bald eagle population, in general, has a rocky past.
According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, bald eagles were listed as an endangered species for about four decades until being removed in 2007.
Now, the population has flown to record numbers. Here are the numbers for Arizona in 2024:
- Number of breeding areas: 104, previous record 99 in 2023
- Number of occupied breeding areas: 90, previous record 82 in 2023
- Number of active breeding areas: 79, previously 72
- Number of eggs laid: at least 119, previous record 104 in both 2021 and 2022
- Successful breeding attempts: 51, previous 45 in 2023
- Number of young hatched: 96, previous 87 in both 2021 and 2018
- Number of young fledged: 77, previous 70 in 2018
“I think a big part of it is the decades of management we’ve put into this species here in Arizona. We’ve saved and put back into the wild probably 100 bald eagles that would have died otherwise,” said Jacobson. “If you find a nest and the birds are flying around vocalizing you are a little too close back off and enjoy them from a distance and lets help this population continue to grow.”
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