AZGFD biologists rescue bald eagle ahead
of Fourth of July
Rescue highlights importance of proper fishing line disposal
 FLAGSTAFF– Expertly rigged a hundred feet high into a towering ponderosa pine, Kyle McCarty, a biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, climbed just below a large nest with a national treasure tucked beneath his arm– a young bald eagle ready for a new home.
As Arizonans plan to celebrate Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the United States, biologists at the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) are continuing efforts to conserve and protect the bald eagle, America’s national bird.
On June 19, a team of staff from the AZGFD, U.S. Forest Service-Coconino National Forest, and volunteers gathered outside Flagstaff to assist in placing a nine-week old bald eagle into an active nest containing another eaglet of approximately the same age.
The foster eaglet was recovered by the biologists on May 21 during routine field work at Willow Springs Lake after they discovered a piece of monofilament fishing line hanging from its mouth. It was suspected that the bird had swallowed a fish hook that had become lodged in its throat and would likely result in death without intervention.
The eaglet was taken to Liberty Wildlife, a wildlife rehabilitation facility and AZGFD partner organization in Phoenix, where it received x-rays and surgery to remove the hook. Although a piece of the hook could not safely be removed during the procedure, the biologists were confident the bird would be able to thrive in the wild.
After recovery, the bald eagle nestling could not return to its original nest– it had been too long and the parent eagles had already left the area. Instead, the team identified a nest near Flagstaff as a potential foster site for the recovered bird.
“Fostering a nestling from a different nest works because the adult eagles are in parental care mode right now,” said Kyle McCarty, AZGFD eagle field projects coordinator. “As long as the foster nestling is approximately the same age as their resident nestling, the adults will feed, care for and protect that new one as their own.”
Every year, the Department tracks dozens of bald eagle nests and over a hundred breeding areas throughout Arizona.
Arizona’s population of nesting bald eagles is small and relatively isolated compared to other places in the country. Their dependence on water restricts them to areas that are also favored by people, and in this case, the rescue was especially warranted because the nestling was harmed as a result of human activity.
“Despite some challenges, the nesting population in Arizona has been steadily growing, including several new breeding areas that were found this year. The Department is committed to doing what we can to maintain that success,” said McCarty.
Kyle McCarty, AZGFD eagle field projects coordinator prepares a young bald eagle to be placed in a foster nest.
AZGFD message to anglers: clean up fishing line to keep birds free
This rescue highlights the importance of proper disposal of monofilament fishing line, which can end up in the nests of bald eagles and endanger their lives.
Fishing line can get tangled around the bodies of bald eagle nestlings, cutting into their legs or tying them down to the nest. The line can also wrap around the animal’s neck or accumulate inside the stomach, preventing the ingestion of food and causing starvation.
It can also be hazardous to other wildlife and to people hiking, swimming or diving, and to boats.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Monofilament Recovery Program encourages recreationists to properly dispose of used fishing line in trash containers or recycling bins to help reduce the risks discarded fishing line poses to wildlife and the environment.
Anglers are also asked not to cut fishing line and return fish with hooks back into the water, where it could be caught and accidentally swallowed by eagles and other wildlife. Use of lures or flies are great and effective angling options for anglers planning on catch and release.
“Anglers and recreators can help Arizona’s bald eagles and other wildlife by picking up improperly discarded fishing line along waterways, volunteering at clean-up events, and ensuring fresh line of the proper weight are being utilized when fishing,” said Kenneth Jacobson, AZGFD raptor management coordinator.
Regular cleanups can prevent ospreys, bald eagles, waterfowl, and pets from encountering dangerous and often lethal entanglement.
Bald eagles are federally protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and although the species has served as a national symbol since the country’s founding, the bald eagle didn’t become the official national bird until 2024.
“Overall, Arizona’s bald eagle population is doing great and becoming ever more resilient as the breeding population grows annually,” said Jacobson. “Recreators can help by enjoying the eagles from a distance and giving breeding pairs the space needed for successful nesting.”
AZGFD will continue to monitor the progress of the fostered bald eagle and the adoptive family in the coming weeks as it prepares to take its first flight– just in time for the Fourth of July.
AZGFD eagle biologist Kyle McCarty climbs up to a bald eagle nest in a pine tree located near Flagstaff.
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