Recently the federal government announced that the bald eagle could be delisted as an endangered species within a year or so. Over 40 years ago there were just over 400 nesting pairs in the U.S. of our national bird. Today there are more than 7,000 nesting pairs, including about 60 in our state alone according to the Colorado Division of Wildlife Bald Eagle Monitoring Site.
Where can you see bald eagles? Many more winter in the state than are permanent residents so now is a good time for viewing. Find a complete list at “25 Great Places to See Eagles in Winter“. This list, which includes golden eagles, includes the following locations:
- San Luis Valley
- Along the White and Yampa Rivers
- John Martin Reservoir, Lamar
- Jackson Reservoir, Weld County
- Standley Lake, Westminster
A bald eagle pair nests every spring at Barr Lake State Park in the NE Denver Metro Area and many spend the winter at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City.
How do you know if you’ve seen a bald eagle? Look for a dark body with a white head and a white tail in the mature birds. However, the experts at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in their page of “All About Birds” have everything you wanted to know plus photos and eagle facts.
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