A photo of FSV44 at Bluff Lake Nature Center. 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, says 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.

“We are heartbroken about the passing of FSV44, who our forest school students named Sonic,” Rachel Hutchens, BLNC’s executive director, said Tuesday. “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 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.

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 11255 MLK. Jr Blvd. 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.”

A photo of FSV44 at Bluff Lake Nature Center.
Photo by George Ho

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.

A full necropsy will be performed.