WILL COUNTY, IL – The Forest Preserve District of Will County has confirmed the sighting of two eaglets in one of its active eagle nests. This news follows the confirmation of the first eaglet of the season last week, according to a news release.
Joel Craig, a volunteer, spotted the two eaglets while checking on the progress of the nest a week after discovering the first eaglet. Craig witnessed the female feeding the eaglets, which included a turtle on the menu for the day.
This nest has produced three offspring twice in the last three years, and while the second nest the preserve is monitoring has not seen any eaglets, there are indications that eggs have hatched. After hatching, the male eagle must bring in large amounts of food for the hungry offspring, causing an increase in activity around the nest.
The eaglets are not yet big enough to be visible in the large nest, which measures 4 to 5 feet wide and 2 to 4 feet deep. The eagles and their nests are federally protected, and human interference could cause the birds to abandon the nest and their eggs, so it is important to keep a distance of at least 330 feet from a nest.
The preserve never publicly discloses nesting locations in order to protect the eagles, and if anyone comes across a nest, they should keep their distance.
