Sonoran bald eagle population is thriving, Arizona Game and Fish Department report

The population of Sonoran bald eagles in Arizona reached a record high this year, with dozens of new hatchlings, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

This breeding season, the eagles laid at least 119 eggs, resulting in 96 hatchlings. Of those, 77 successfully fledged, taking their first flight.

There were 104 documented breeding areas statewide, including seven new sites this year, Arizona Game and Fish Department added.

“Arizona’s bald eagle population continues to be strong,” said Kenneth “Tuk” Jacobson, AZGFD bald eagle management coordinator. “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.”

In 2010, after a two-year review, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the Sonoran bald eagles in Arizona did not require continued protection under the Endangered Species Act. The species was officially removed from the Endangered Species List the following year.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department supported the recognition of the population as a distinct segment for biological reasons. They believed that the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, along with their comprehensive bald eagle management program, would ensure the ongoing success of the eagles in the Sonoran Desert.

The department plans on continuing with its conservation strategies that aided in the current record population of bald eagles in Arizona.

Follow along with Arizona Game and Fish social media to catch glimpses of the bald eagle population!

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Record year for Sonoran bald eagles as 77 hatchlings take first flight