The 4-year-old bald eagle, who had established a nest with his mate at Bluff Lake Nature Center, was electrocuted on May 2. Photo by George Ho

A bald eagle that made its home and nest at Bluff Lake Nature Center (BLNC) in Denver has died. It was electrocuted on May 2.

His name was FSV44, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). To the kids in BLNC’s forest school educational program who watched him and his mate regularly, he was Sonic.

The inspiring eagle had an impressive story and was a “successful young bird,” said Reesa Conrey, a CPW avian researcher. “He contributed great data to our research projects, and I’m very sad that the story ends here,” Conrey said.

The bald eagle known as FSV44, to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and as Sonic to the kids at the Bluff Lake Nature Center forest school. Photo by George Ho

“We are heartbroken about the passing of FSV44, who our forest school students named Sonic,” said Rachel Hutchens, BLNC’s executive director. “We were all lucky to have had the chance to experience the eagle pair over the last several months. The kids loved checking in on them every day and watching them build their nest and hunt on the lake. We hope that the female (Pinky) will be back next year!”

Conrey said FSV44 was tagged at Xcel Energy’s Fort St. Vrain webcam nest in Platteville, Colorado in 2021 and his life was followed on Facebook by fans and by researchers who shared his movements. He made a few “impressive” migrations, including all the way to Hudson Bay in Canada, Conrey said.

The male eagle, FSV44, was tagged and traveled long distances during his lifetime. Map courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife

CPW got three years of data before the tag separated from the bird on May 17, 2024. The tag was recovered later that month near Denver International Airport.

In January, the eagle found a mate at BLNC, the first pair of breeding eagles at the Denver wildlife area at the edge of Central Park. Bird watchers and visitors delighted in watching the activity around the nest, which had previously been occupied by red-tailed hawks.

By March 1, the nest had been transformed into an eagle’s nest, which ultimately failed, meaning no surviving offspring were produced. But birdwatcher George Ho said the pair “was still hanging around BLNC and showed some attempts at rebuilding a nest.”

Conrey said CPW discovered that one of the eagles was FSV44 after his electrocution death at a utility pole in the area of the nearby correctional complex.

“It’s amazing that he established a nest and a pair bond as a 4-year-old (they don’t typically breed until 5 or older),” Corney said in an email to Front Porch. “It’s such a shame that he survived for four years in our urban/suburban landscape and then got electrocuted shortly after nesting for the first time. This will make a lot of folks sad (including me), but perhaps it will draw attention to the issue of electrocution risk.”

She added that the death was reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Fort St. Vrain webcam and nest are supported by Xcel Energy with help from the Raptor Resource Project.

Front Porch contacted Xcel for information about the nearby power lines but has not heard back by the time of publication.

A full necropsy was performed.