Here are the best national parks to spot bald eagles
If you are an avid birder or just someone who has never seen a bald eagle, Birda put together a list of the best national parks to see America's national bird.
How well do you know your national bird?
Most of us know the bald eagle is the symbol of our nation. The first time the symbol appeared was on a Massachusetts copper cent in 1776, well before Congress approved of the eagle as the national symbol and bird in 1782. Here are a few other things you may or may not know.
If seeing a bald eagle is on your bucket list, Birda.org can help you out. The birdwatching app released its list of the top five national parks to find America's bird, which Congress named as the country's national symbol in 1782.
There are 424 national parks across America and its territories, so Birda used data from member birdwatchers and found places with the most sightings of bald eagles. The goal was to narrow it down so everyone, from avid birders to first-timers, can get a glimpse of the national bird.
The eagles are usually found near water, where they feed, as well as nest in large trees. They form long-term pair bonds, according to the National Park Service. Some birds nest in one place year-round, while others migrate and return to nest and breed each year.
WATCH: BALD EAGLE FLIES WITH CANADIAN GOOSE CLUTCHED IN TALONS
CHRISTMAS, Florida – A bald eagle swoops in and catches a coot in its talons.
(JIM WATSON/AFP / Getty Images)
Females, the larger of the species, lay one to three eggs between February and April. Both adults keep the eggs warm. Eaglets are completely dependent on their parents for food until 10 to 14 weeks old, when they learn to fly.
Almost 15% of Americans call themselves birdwatchers, according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife survey. More than 16 million traveled while 40 stayed home to spy feathered friends.
Here's their list of the five best national parks to spot bald eagles.
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File: Two bald eagles in Los Angeles County, California.
( Nick Ut / Getty Images)
1. Acadia National Park, Maine
Acaida National Park is nestled into the rugged Maine coastline. It is home to seabirds, birds of prey and boreal birds. Its pristine beaches and lakes, along with cliffs and forests, offer multiple habitats. Acadia is home to 261 species of birds, according to Birda. It does close some trails during Peregrine falcon nesting season
In addition to bald eagles, look for these other birds:
- Atlantic puffins
- Peregrine falcons
- Blackburnian warblers
- Woodpeckers
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Birda said that Jordan Lake is one of the best places to bird watch as well as Precipice Trail and Cadillac Mountain.
(HUM Images/Universal Images Group / Getty Images)
2. Olympic National Park, Washington
More than 250 species have been spotted in the park just east of Seattle, according to Birda. Birds and tourist enjoy Washington's beaches, forests, waterfalls, moss, ferns and mountains in Olympic National Park.
In addition to bald eagles, look for these other birds:
- Western gull
- Red-breasted sapsucker
- Woodpecker
- Belted kingfisher
- Steller's and Gray jay
- Blue grouse
- Peregrine falcon
- Northern Pygmy owl
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File: Sea stacks in the fog on Ruby Beach in the Olympic National Park.
( Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket / Getty Images)
3. Pinnacles National Park, California
Pinnacles National Park is one of the few parks that California condors call home. Wildlife officials breed the birds in captivity and release them in the park. You can find more than 160 bird species here. This California park is relatively small and less visited, according to Birda.
In addition to bald eagles, look for these other birds:
- California quail
- California condor
- Turkey vulture
- Golden eagle
- Prairie falcon
- Acorn woodpecker
- Steller's jay
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Birda also recommends hiking around the High Peaks area of the park to spot condors.
(Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle / Getty Images)
4. Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone became America's first national park in 1872. Almost 300 bird species have been sighted in the 2.2 million acres. You can also find other wildlife like bears, bison and elk.
The park which spans Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, is home to eight active eagle nests. Three of which welcomed a combined four baby eaglets into the world in 2022.
In addition to bald eagles, look for these other birds:
- American white pelican
- Canada geese
- Common loon
- Osprey
- Sandhill crane
- Trumpeter swan
- American dipper
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File: A bald eagle flies above the Madison River in Yellowstone National Park.
(Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times / Getty Images)
5. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Maryland
The Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine has an equally patriotic claim to fame in addition to hosting bald eagles. The nation's forces bravely defended the fort in the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, which inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the immortal words, "Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light," as he watched the Stars and Stripes of Fort McHenry, gallantly streaming in the rocket's red glare.
In addition to bald eagles, look for these other birds:
- Osprey
- Baltimore oriole
- Canada geese
- Ducks
File: An aerial view of Fort McHenry.
(Rob Carr / Getty Images)