Bald Eagle Monitoring Program
In partnership with US Fish and Wildlife and our university partners, LJEA created a program to monitor bald eagle activity on Lake James. This includes observation of known bald eagle nests and any activity in them on the lake.
Please see the following reports for the findings from previous nesting seasons:
2022 Bald Eagle Report
2023 Bald Eagle Report
2024 Bald Eagle Report
In 2026, Dr. Anna Hardy from Montreat College will complete a study on eagle habit in the Lake James area. We will post her report when it is finished.
We need your help! If you see a bald eagle or nest, please report it on the form at the link below.
REPORT BALD EAGLE/NEST SIGHTINGS HERE
17 April 2026 Update
Unfortunately, the nest that we previously reported on the Linville side of the lake has been inactive for the past month. There must have been eggs in that nest in February and March since one eagle or the other was in the nest for many weeks in a row, and the eggs may actually have hatched in mid-March. But then, shortly after inferring hatching, the nest became inactive. Our guess is that something (bad) happened to the chicks. Recent visits have confirmed no activity, with no eagle sightings here a month.
Better news on the known nest west of Canal Bridge. Observers have been out several times in the past 2 weeks and have seen eagles sitting in the nest, perching on trees near the nest, and returning to the nest with a fish. Unfortunately, as the trees are getting more leaves, the nest is becoming harder to see. However, observations will continue.
