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Daily Bucket: A Visit to the Lake Natoma Bald Eagle Nest [1]

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Date: 2025-05-03

Last week, my bird club took a field trip out to Folsom Lake State Recreational Area in Eastern Sacramento County to view the Bald Eagle nest. The nest is located in a pine tree next to Lake Natoma, providing the parents with a prime fishing location. While the nest is totally inaccessible, the tree sits about 20 feet from a popular hiking trail and can be easily viewed.

Bald Eagles have been nesting here for the last 9 years. They have successfully raised 19 chicks. They currently have two in the nest that appear to be thriving. However, the parents built up the nest this winter about 6 inches higher, effectively hiding their little ones. I only caught one glimpse of a tiny fuzzy head for just a second, before the eaglet nestled down safe from view.

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We met several docents from the non-profit Friends of Lakes Folsom and Natoma, (FOLFAN) who provided viewing scopes and gave us plenty of information. Unfortunately their 24 hour nest camera is currently down for repairs, so we couldn’t watch the activity in the nest.

As the day was cold, windy and overcast, the docent mentioned that the eaglets were probably snuggling down to keep warm. The parents were definitely busy. We watched Momma’s head bob up and down as she fed her babies.

When I initially arrived at the trailhead, I noticed an eagle in a nearby tree. It was Momma and she was napping. Taking care of two nestlings is exhausting.

Momma Eagle takes a look around ...

… then closes her eyes for a short nap

The docents explained that the parents begin with nest repair and rebuilding in December and lay eggs in early February. Incubation take 5 weeks. This year the eggs hatched the week of March 17th. For the first few weeks, the parents are on the nest almost all the time. As the babies grow, the parents spend less and less time tending to their young. The eaglets grow rapidly until they fledge at approximately 10-14 weeks. Once they fledge, they do not return to the nest.

These eagles have a feeding tree located about a ¼ mile downriver from the nest near the Lake Natoma shore. They will continue to feed the eaglets there and teach them how to fish for a month or so. Then the juveniles are on their own.

It takes 5 years for a bald eagle to grow to full maturity with the white head and tail. The first 3 years, the birds are all dark brown and black. In the fourth year, white head feathers grow in and the white tail comes in the fifth year.

We learned the history of this pair. Momma Eagle originally built the nest with a different male. He disappeared several years later. She found her current partner the following year. He is several years younger and she trained him to assist her. The docents pointed out that this male Bald Eagle is an exceptionally good parent and partner.

Momma Eagle also apparently injured a wing about 6 years ago and remains in the area year round. Poppa Eagle leaves in the summer. As the birds are not tagged, they don't know where he goes but when he returns, he is obviously tired and it takes him a couple of days to recover from his trip. As the nest is inaccessible, the babies are not tagged.

They are concerned about the nesting tree. It is beginning to lean over the lake. Each year the eagles add plenty of weight as they expand and continue to enlarge the nest.

Both parents care for the nestlings. Momma is behind Poppa feeding babies.

Momma continues to feed as Poppa prepares to leave the nest.

As we were a good sized group, the rest of the birds, stayed away for the most part. We did get a glimpse of a White-Breasted Nuthatch, but he was definitely camera shy as were the Bush Tits and Oak Titmouse who are usually fairly plentiful when I visit the area by myself.

The Turkey Vultures were not shy. The docents explained the vultures often soar overhead looking for an opportunity to steal food from the nest or get a chance to grab a nestling. At 5 weeks the babies are very vulnerable to other predators.

One of several vultures circling the eagles nest

This year a pair of yellow-billed magpies decided to build a nest in the same tree above the eagle nest. They also tried to evict the eagles. That did not go well for the magpies; although they still occasionally harass the eagle pair. The eagles will often drive them away from the tree.

Yellow-Billed Magpie pair sit in a tree a few feet from the nesting pine after the eagles chased them away.

Dozens of Acorn Woodpeckers inhabit the area.

Here is a hummingbird in flight. He kept hovering near us.

Sorry for the dark photos, the overcast light caused a lot of silhouettes in my photos. They looked much lighter in my lens.

I usually watch the nest at another location that is much closer. However, it is too small to accommodate more than 3 or 4 people, so we were at the official eagle nest viewing area which is much farther away.

As we left the viewing area, a state park ranger passed us leading a group of about 30 people that appeared to be college students. They were headed to the spot we had just vacated.

We continue to have changeable spring weather. Most of this week has been in the 70s but now we are expecting to be in the 60s with chances of a shower or 2 for a couple of days. Then they are forecasting temps in the 80s by midweek.

So what’s up in your neck of the woods?

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