Park restores bald eagle nesting basket
The cottonwood tree that held a bald eagle nest at Barr Lake State Park was blown down by a windstorm in April.
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Image 1 of 6The cottonwood tree that held a bald eagle nest at Barr Lake State Park was blown down in a windstorm last April. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
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Image 2 of 6The cottonwood tree that held a bald eagle nest at Barr Lake State Park was blown down in a windstorm last April. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
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Image 3 of 6The cottonwood tree that held a bald eagle nest at Barr Lake State Park was blown down in a windstorm last April. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
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Image 4 of 6The cottonwood tree that held a bald eagle nest at Barr Lake State Park was blown down in a windstorm last April. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
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Image 5 of 6The cottonwood tree that held a bald eagle nest at Barr Lake State Park was blown down in a windstorm last April. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
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Image 6 of 6The cottonwood tree that held a bald eagle nest at Barr Lake State Park was blown down in a windstorm last April. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
BRIGHTON, Colo. – Baled eagles on Colorado’s Front Range now have a new nest to call home, thanks to the employees at the Barr Lake’s Wildlife Refuge.
Crews reinstalled the basket Friday after the cottonwood tree holding the original nest fell down during gusty winds in April, destroying two eggs.
The nesting basket was created back in 1986 and has been home to dozens of eaglets.
After staff reinstalled the metal wire basket, sticks were layered along the frame to help the giant birds get a head start on their nest.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife park manager Michelle Seubert said the framework helps eagles looking to nest during the winter months.
"We are putting up our starter eagle nest basket in the same area as our last nest tree that fell down in the spring of this year," said Park Manager Michelle Seubert. "This area is prime habitat for the eagles and provides a way for our visitors to safely view the nest from our gazebo boardwalk."
Wildlife specialists say the bird's nesting season varies by region and expecting mothers can lay upwards of four eggs.
"As land managers, we really are trying to provide and make sure that our wildlife can thrive, as well as providing those cool opportunities for people to view wildlife and learn about them," Seubert said.
Sightings of bald eagles are not only becoming more common at the park, spottings are also increasing across North America as the population grows.
The U.S. Department of the Interior estimates there are more than 300,000 bald eagles in the contiguous United States.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the bald eagle from the endangered species list in 2007 because of the soaring population.