Protecting Bald Eagles After Fledging:
The Overlooked Post-Fledging Dependence (PFD) Period

Fledging isn’t the finish line—it’s the start of the most vulnerable stage in a young Bald Eagle’s life. This talk shares eight years of Front Range research following 45 juveniles across six nests in northern Colorado. We document how long juveniles remain dependent, what “provisioning” really looks like, and how disturbance and current management gaps affect survival during the PFD period.

Highlights

• Juveniles remain reliant on adults well after fledging—PFD is measurable and essential.
• Adult presence and food provisioning patterns shape juvenile survival.
• Disturbance (human, industrial, recreation) measurably disrupts feeding and care.
• Why current guidelines miss this stage—and how that can change.