Record Number of Bald Eagles Found at Trinity Lake, Surpassing Shasta Lake

For years, Shasta Lake had been the largest area of nesting bald eagles in California, but that’s no longer the case. Shasta-Trinity National Forest officials conducted their annual bald eagle survey of Trinity Lake and counted 123 bald eagles in the area, breaking a record at the lake and surpassing Shasta as the top destination for bald eagles in California.

Officials and wildlife biologists counted 68 adults and 55 juvenile bald eagles in the area as they transition into nesting season, which lasts until around the month of July. Wildlife biologists Kaela Gamio and Lauren Clark took photos of the survey on Trinity Lake and came out with these fantastic photos of the eagles in the area:

Although the officials were excited for the high numbers of bald area counted during the survey, they reminded the public to view the beautiful birds at a distance.

“Eagle observers are reminded that state and federal laws protect bald eagles and their nest sites”, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest said on social media. “Disturbance around the nest could cause the birds to abandon the nest or discourage them from using the nest in the future. Please enjoy them from a distance and respect closure areas.”

Here are some cool facts of bald eagles:

  • Bald eagles construct the largest nest of any bird in North America. A nest found in Florida was measured at 20 feet deep, 9 1/2 feet wide, and weighed almost three tons.
  • Bald eagles can soar to an altitude of over 10,000 feet.
  • Eagle bones are light because they are hollow.
  • Bald eagles have approximately 7,000 feathers.
  • Bald eagles do not sweat. Like dogs, they control their temperature by panting with their mouths open.
  • Bald eagles can “swim.” After catching prey that is too heavy to fly off with, they will swim to the shore, dragging the prey with them.
  • Bald eagles have lived up to 50 years in captivity.

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