Bald eagles build nest for babies in giant Arizona cactus. It’s a first for biologists
A bald eagle wanted to be noticed in the most Arizona way.
For the first time ever documented, a bald eagle nest was found in a saguaro cactus, according to Arizona Game and Fish.
“How Arizona is this!?” the department said on Facebook. “Our state’s first documented bald eagle nest in a saguaro cactus!”
Biologists tried to find bald eagles nesting in a cactus for 18 years, Game and Fish said. They had no luck ― until now.
How Arizona is this! Our eagle survey team captured this image of a bald eagle family nesting in the arms of a saguaro - a rare sight! In fact, it's the first time an image of eagles nesting in a saguaro has been captured in Arizona. pic.twitter.com/OmXRGi9mVE
— Arizona Game & Fish (@azgfd) April 16, 2020
To make the occasion even more special, the nest has eaglets, too, the department said.
The last mention of an eagle nesting in a saguaro cactus was in the 1930s in historical records, but there were no photos to prove it, Game and Fish said.
“Historic records from the 1930s mention an eagle’s nest in a saguaro, but without documentation or photographic proof - so this sighting from a recent aerial survey is very exciting!” the department said. “Who says a cactus can’t be cozy?”
