Tour Train Travels Past Bald Eagle Nest

THE NEST IS A LITTLE CROWDED…..
EAGLETS HAVE HATCHED AT THE VERDE CANYON

CLARKDALE, AZ. - Verde Canyon Railroad is proud to announce the arrival of a new generation of the American bald eagle in the Verde Canyon. This year we have been blessed with two male eaglets to carry on the tradition in our canyon.

For the past eleven years, resident bald eagles, nicknamed Black and Decker, have lived and thrived in the Verde Canyon, producing offspring almost yearly. The adult birds prepare the nest, lay the eggs, and watch fervently until the young eaglets become self-sufficient and can survive on their own.

It takes about 35 days until the chicks are hatched. This is a critical time situation. If the nest is disturbed, or the eagles feel threatened by man, they often will abandon the unborn, leaving the eggs for predators.
Once the chicks are hatched, the parents become fierce partners and protect the eaglets with their lives. Both mother and father take turns hunting, feeding and watching over the nest. Adult eagles feed mostly on carp, native fish and ducks. With the constant supply of food and nurturing of their parents, young eagles grow at a rapid pace and quickly begin to lose their white down and grow feathers.

Passengers onboard the Verde Canyon Railroad are generally privileged to watch the eaglets feel their way. By May or early June, as the young eagles test their wings and build strength, they take that first small flight as doting parents and passengers observe. Unfortunately, the new eagles typically fly north to test their own hunting skills where salmon and other food sources are plentiful in the mild summer climates. The resident couple, Black and Decker, remains behind. They continue to be a constant reminder of our enduring fight for freedom and our everlasting romance with nature.

"Nature is what sets this trip apart from others. You simply won’t see bald eagles, the variety of wildlife or pollution free environment anywhere else," says Teresa Propeck, marketing director. “As a result, two to four eaglets hatch annually. And, as many as 36 eagles have been sighted on just one trip through the canyon!”

“The Verde Canyon Railroad, wealthy in archeology, history, geology and magnificent manmade rail structures, is a wildlife and waterfowl paradise. Feathered friends abound, including the Great blue heron, a variety of hawks and falcons, egrets, and a multitude of ducks, are all current residents. But, the most majestic, is of course, the bald eagle,” added Propeck.

To see Mother Nature’s timeless Artistry and the prolific Verde Canyon ecosystem firsthand, call 1-800-293-7245, or visit the Railroad’s website at www.verdecanyonrr.com.

The Verde Canyon Railroad is located at 300 N. Broadway, Clarkdale, Ariz. Ideally situated below the cold of the mountains, and above the heat of the desert, the train depot is 25 minutes from Sedona, two hours north of Phoenix, and one and one-half hours south of Flagstaff. Passengers are encouraged to arrive approximately one and one-half hours prior to departure.