Bald eagle nest in Folsom Lake park falls as storm pounds Sacramento region

A nest housing bald eagles at the Folsom Lake State Recreational Area fell from its tree Sunday, according to a nonprofit.

Two bald eagles, called Mama and Papa by aficionados, have been in living in the park since at least 2017, according to the nonprofit Friends of Lakes Folsom & Natoma website. People from around the world follow the eagles at Lake Natoma in Orangevale, with many coming to the area to observe hatchlings flutter about.

The nonprofit said on social media that one eagle was flying in the area. The mother eagle has not recently laid eggs in the nest, according to the social media post, which also included a photo of a downed tree where the nest perched atop bare branches.

“Though this is an upsetting event, I am taking solace in the fact that Mama was not setting on eggs when the tree went down,” the nonprofit said on social media. “Our Eagles have suffered so much loss in the past but have always shown us how brave and resilient they are by continuing to move forward and raise more Eaglets.”

This story was originally published January 4, 2026 at 4:02 PM.