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Watsonville: Nesting pair of bald eagles at Pinto Lake

For the first time in years, a pair of bald eagles is preparing to nest in Santa Cruz County, near the top of a eucalyptus tree near Pinto Lake County Park. In California as in other places, the toxic effects of DDT manifested themselves through the thinning of egg shells and unsuccessful hatching. The national symbol of the United States became an endangered species in the U.S. in 1967, and California added bald eagles its endangered list in 1971. When DDT was finally banned in the U.S. in 1972, fewer than 30 nesting pairs remained in the state.

But today, California bald eagles are recovering. According to the California Department of Fish and Game, nesting pairs have been found in 41 of the state’s 58 counties. Although pairs of bald eagles have nested in Santa Clara, San Benito,  and Monterey counties, bald eagles have been SEEN only occasionally in Santa Cruz County, and none have nested there.

Although bald eagles are not on the federal endangered list anymore, the species remains federally protected. Bald eagles are still on California’s endangered list.

Thanks in part to photographs taken by amateur photographer and Watsonville resident, Efren B. Adalem, and posted on the Web site of a local TV station on Wednesday, people have flocked 😉 to Pinto Lake (Google Map) to see the birds!

“I was pretty excited to see them actually nesting, placing sticks in the nest and catching fish and bringing that back to the nest,” Adalem said.

Pinto Lake is off Green Valley Road and a popular fishing spot that is stocked with trout regularly. Both the City of Watsonville and the county have parks along the shores. Yesterday, visitors catalogued a flock of cormorants, a pair of herons, coots, a young ruddy duck, seagulls, and a trio of ospreys! Some visitors spent most of the afternoon looking across the lake from the shore near near a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe before they were finally rewarded with a view of the bald eagles.

Although we in Livermore have nesting bald eagles at Lake Del Valle nearby, I am delighted that the birds appear to be expanding their range into Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz County parks are some of our favorite weekend getaway places!

-Bill at

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