Bald eagle population growth in Arizona reaching record highs, wildlife managers say

PHOENIX — Bald eagle population growth in Arizona reached record highs in 2024, as the formerly endangered species continues its dramatic comeback from near extinction, according to wildlife managers.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department reported a record 90 adult pairs in 104 breeding areas during the 2024 season. In 1978, when the bald eagle received protections from the Endangered Species Act, only 11 breeding areas were known statewide with nine adult pairs.

At least 119 eggs were laid this season, breaking the previous high of 104. Meanwhile, the record for hatchlings grew from 87 to 96, of which 77 took their first flights (fledged), according to AZGFD.

The breeding season lasts from December through August, a time in which wildlife managers implement seasonal closures and restrictions as well as undergo nest watch programs, nest surveys and demographic studies.

“We evaluate each breeding area, its location, the breeding adults and their tolerance to human activities,” AZGFD Bald Eagle Management Coordinator Kenneth Jacobson said in a press release. “Then we form the management plan for that area and for the needs of that pair.”

Where does Arizona’s bald eagle population live?

Arizona’s bald eagle population primarily nests along the Salt, Gila and Verde rivers, typically within a mile of a water source. Nests can be seen along cliffs, in cottonwood trees, junipers, pines or even artificial structures.

The Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee handles the bald eagle management in the state, and the group is made up of government, private and Native American representatives.

“The fact that we continue to see an increase in breeding areas and hatchlings speaks to the resiliency of these magnificent animals and the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to help conserve and protect Arizona’s bald eagles,” Jacobson said.

The bald eagle was delisted from Endangered Species Act in 2007, although eagles living in Arizona returned to the list in 2008 until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed a status review. In 2011, Arizona’s bald eagles joined the rest of the nation’s birds and was removed.

The birds remain protected under Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940, which threatens criminal penalties for those who pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect or disturb bald eagles. Further protections are offered through the the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Lacey Act.

The Southwest Bald Eagle Management Committee developed a conservation strategy before the eagle’s delisting, including the seasonal closures and surveys.

That’s not to say there are no current threats to bald eagles, who still face human conflicts such as shootings, wildlife trafficking, lead poisoning from bullets and fishing weights, power lines and disturbances from drones and vehicles.

Why was the bald eagle endangered?

Bald eagles fell victim to illegal shootings, habitat destruction and DDT contamination during the 1900s, according to FWS. Habitat protection via the Endangered Species Act and the banning of DDT aided in recovery of the national bird, did conservation efforts from the environmental groups and wildlife advocates. In 1963, only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles were known in the U.S. By 2019, the number had increased to 71,467 breeding pairs in the lower 48 states.

Once a rarity, eagles have become a common site in many areas around the country. Bald eagles range from Alaska to Mexico and California to Florida.