We were in the car, rounding the bend near Wally Toevs Pond on our way out of Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat in Boulder, when a bald eagle came into view. My children gasped, and my husband pulled the Honda over so we could hurriedly get out for a better look.
Resting near the top of a utility pole, the majestic bird was impossible to miss, with that telltale snow-white plumage. We could see its piercing eyes surveying the landscape, a flourishing wetland habitat that previously harbored industrial gravel pits. The eagle looked right at us before resuming its aerial assessment, hooked yellow beak ready to snag a muskrat or bluegill from the ponds below.
Seeing a bald eagle in the wild is as thrilling as crossing Independence Pass in an old RV in a snowstorm. Here, local ornithologists and wildlife experts share the best places to see our national bird this winter — no white-knuckle drive required.
A big, charismatic bird
Bald eagles were a symbol of freedom for Americans long before former President Joe Biden signed a bill on Christmas Eve making the predator the official national bird. They are the rockstars of Colorado wildlife, too, and have been since 1986, when the first post-DDT nests were discovered at Barr Lake State Park in Brighton.
“They’re a big, charismatic bird, and a lot of people have strong feelings attached to them,” said Matt Smith, an avian ecologist who monitors birds for the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, a nonprofit focused on conservation throughout the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains regions.
Smith cherishes bald eagles for the conservation success story they represent. The species was critically endangered in America’s lower 48 in the 1960s and ’70s. “There were only around 400 documented nests across the continental U.S.,” Smith explained, attributing the bird’s decline to multiple factors, including widespread use of DDT. (The chemical, which contaminated fish and waterfowl that birds of prey eat, ultimately weakened bald eagle eggshells, preventing reproduction.)
Bald eagles were among the first animals listed on the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and a coinciding ban on DDT allowed populations to start successfully reproducing again.
Their numbers have steadily increased ever since; as of 2020, there were an estimated 300,000 across the lower 48. The birds have recovered so well that they were removed from the endangered species list in 2007, but conservationists still keep an eye on our national bird, which remains protected under two federal laws.
Where do bald eagles hang out?
If you want to spot a bald eagle, look for old-growth cottonwood trees along major stream drainages. There are at least 211 occupied bald eagle nests in Colorado this season, according to Smith. That means there are 422-plus individual nesting birds in Colorado.
“The nests are big and hard to miss,” said Dana Bove, president of the Front Range Nesting Bald Eagle Studies (FRNBES), a nonprofit that studies nesting and winter roosting bald eagles across the northern Front Range.
Bove has read descriptions of 2,000-pound eagle nests. “That must be on the very large end,” he said, adding, “But the nests do get quite big — more than six feet across.”
Given their size, bald eagle nests need a substantial tree to host them, and in the lowlands of Colorado, that’s almost exclusively old-growth cottonwoods. Go into the mountains, though, and you might find bald eagles nesting in pine trees and other evergreens.
In addition to its nonmigratory nesting population, Colorado is also a stomping ground for migratory bald eagles who arrive in October and hang out through the spring to escape colder regions further north. Those migratory eagles do something really stunning: They congregate in specific areas, forming “communal roosts” that help them stay safe and conserve energy through the long nights. Find a communal roost, and you can view dozens of bald eagles flocked together on the same tree.
It’s something to see.
When’s the best time to see them?
“Winter is definitely the best time to see bald eagles in Colorado, for two reasons,” Smith said. There are more bald eagles this time of year since migratory birds join our year-round nesting population. Experts don’t have a great sense of Colorado’s wintering eagle population, but data from the app eBird indicates that our bald eagle population might be up to 15 times higher this time of the year.
Beyond increased numbers, Smith continues, “Local eagles are getting serious about nesting right now.” When they’re out doing nest construction and maintenance, there are more opportunities to observe them.
Birders can spot bald eagles pretty much any time of the day. If you want to see activity at a nest, though, morning and evening are the best times for viewing. And with communal roosting sites, early evening, when it’s just starting to get dark, is the prime time to observe masses of bald eagles as they group for the night.
Be prepared
Sure, you can see a bald eagle with the naked eye, Smith said. But “if you don’t have binoculars, you’re missing out on the better part of the experience.” A spotting scope is even better.
Be sure to dress right for winter wildlife viewing, opting for layers and a warm coat since the temperature can change abruptly here in Colorado. Bring sunscreen, too, along with sunglasses, gloves and plenty of water and snacks that won’t freeze, including cheese and chocolate.
Surefire ways to see bald eagles
Your best bet is to link up with a group. Two natural areas near Fort Collins offer free bald eagle experiences with master naturalists.
Every Friday and Saturday in February, volunteer naturalists will be stationed at the viewing pier at Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area, 3340 Carpenter Road. In addition to spouting off interesting bald eagle facts, volunteers help visitors view the birds through spotting scopes and binoculars. (BYO-binocs, if you’ve got them.)
Drop in anytime from 3:30 to 5 p.m. This Eagle Watch program is free, and registration isn’t required, though you can sign up in advance online to receive email reminders and cancellation notices. If temperatures are below freezing, or it’s too windy or foggy, Eagle Watches may be canceled. Visit fcgov.com/naturalareas for additional details.
Bird enthusiasts can also head to River Bluffs Open Space, 6371 E. County Road 32 E. On Saturdays in February, from 10 a.m. to noon, volunteer naturalist Carl Sorrentino will be posted up at the site’s main trailhead, ready to share his knowledge while showing guests where and how to view eagles. All ages and abilities are welcome, and spotting scopes will be available.
In Boulder, meanwhile, community naturalist Dave Sutherland leads small groups on a special — and free — Winter Hawk Walk, on Feb. 22 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Hikers will depart from the aptly named Eagle Trailhead, just west of Boulder Reservoir, north of Jay Road.
“We almost always see bald and golden eagles on this walk, plus other winter raptors,” Sutherland said. His hikes fill up, and advanced registration is required. Sutherland hopes to offer a second Hawk Walk in early March. Check his website, davesutherland.co, for updates.
More places for sightings
There are plenty of places for solo birders to explore, too, starting in Brighton with Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Picadilly Road.
“I’ve been there when there are a hundred or more eagles around the lake in all stages of maturity,” Smith said, noting that you’ll find both nesting and migratory bald eagles at Barr Lake’s massive, 1,950-acre reservoir.
The park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and you’ll need a $10 daily vehicle pass or annual state parks pass to enter. Park in the south lot, near the Barr Lake Visitor and Nature Center, and walk toward the water. An 8.8-mile trail follows the perimeter of the reservoir, but you don’t have to hike the whole thing to glimpse the national bird. In fact, the boardwalk is a perfect perch.
Barr Lake State Park’s 13th annual Bald Eagle Festival is Sat., Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free community event includes live raptors, crafts for kids, and a guided bird hike at 9 a.m.
In Commerce City, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, 6550 Gateway Road, was established in the 1990s to protect two roosting bald eagles — and you’ll still find eagles there today.
Start with a quick tour of the fabulous Visitor Center, open Wednesday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed on federal holidays). From there, take the mile-long Discovery Trail past the black-footed ferret exhibit to Lake Mary Loop Trail, where you’re liable to spot bald eagles from the boardwalk and piers overlooking the water. The 11-mile-long wildlife drive is also a good option for birders and those looking to see snow-frosted faces of the resident bison.
Take a cue from migratory birds, and go south. Bald eagles have been spotted at Fountain Creek Reservoir Regional Park, 2010 Duckwood Road, a 460-acre linear park situated along Fountain Creek, between the cities of Colorado Springs and Fountain. The park is open daily, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fountain Creek Nature opens to a short, looped trail and the Cattail Marsh Wildlife Area. Visit Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to chat with knowledgeable staff.
Bald eagles have a reputation for being fairly tolerant — but still, try not to disturb local wildlife while birding. If the birds you’re watching are reacting — flying around the nest, for example, or vocalizing — then you’re too close. “View the nest from as far away as you can while still getting a good view,” Smith advised.