Barr Lake celebrates bald eaglet hatch

    BRIGHTON – Barr Lake State Park is celebrating the annual spring hatching of its clutch of eaglets.
    For almost 25 years, bald eagles have nested in Barr Lake’s wildlife refuge. The habitat of Barr Lake is perfect for one pair of nesting bald eagles with large old cottonwoods, rich food sources and little disturbance.  
    A pair of bald eagles has attended a nest in the wildlife refuge since 1986.  During that time, eagles have survived severe storms, loss of nesting trees and several changes of mates.  As of 2010, the Barr Lake bald eagle pair had fledged 40 young from eight different nests.
    Each year since 1988, volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory’s Bald Eagle Watch await the signs of hatching eaglets in early spring. Volunteers observed restless parents exhibiting typical hatching behavior April 2. An eaglet was seen in the nest April 16.
    Usually one or two eaglets hatch. The bald eagle pair will be busy feeding their eaglets a variety of prey, including fish, waterfowl and prairie dogs. If all goes well, the juveniles will fly from the nest in late June and remain in the area with their parents most of the summer.
    Visitors can celebrate the newly hatched eaglets by walking out to the gazebo to view the eagles. The 2 ½-mile walk to the gazebo and back takes you to an excellent viewing area of the eagle nest. Binoculars are available at the nature center. If you can’t make the walk, the Eagle Express will start running Sundays, starting May 8 at 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. throughout the summer. Reservations are strongly recommended.
    The nature center is open every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can purchase park passes and registrations. It offers children’s books, puzzles and gadgets; field and hiking guides; natural history books; stuffed animals and puppets; numerous and unique bird items and ornaments and Barr Lake clothing. Purchases support educational programs at Barr Lake because a portion of the proceeds from retail sales comes back to the park.
    Colorado state parks get everyone outdoors. Attracting more than 12 million visitors per year, Colorado’s 42 state parks are a vital cornerstone of Colorado’s economy and quality of life. They encompass 224,447 land and water acres, offering some of the best outdoor recreation destinations in the state. State parks are a leader in providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, protecting the state’s favorite landscapes, teaching generations about nature and partnering with communities. Visit www.parks.state.co.us.