Will County, IL – The Forest Preserve District of Will County has some exciting news for nature lovers. Five eaglets have hatched this spring, continuing the trend of the increasing number of bald eagles in the region over the past decade.
On April 4th, three eaglets were spotted in one nest, and on April 14th, two hatchlings were confirmed in a second nest. The eagle parents are busy feeding their adorable fuzzy-headed chicks, as seen in a video posted on the Forest Preserve’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
Joel Craig, a volunteer eagle monitor for the Forest Preserve, said that it’s always exciting to see the next generation of bald eagles locally. The nests have produced three eaglets twice in the past three years. The eagle baby boom shows that the species finds Will County a hospitable place to nest.
Eagles build nests year after year and require maintenance before each nesting season. The nests are generally huge, measuring 4-5 feet wide and 2-4 feet deep. The increasing number of immature bald eagles in the winter is evidence that Will County has a healthy fish population and clean water to support them year-round.
Eagle nests and the birds themselves are federally protected. Human interference can cause the birds to abandon the nest and their eggs. The National Audubon Society recommends staying at least 330 feet away from a nest. The Forest Preserve District never publicly discloses nesting locations to protect the birds.
The rebounding eagle numbers in Will County are an encouraging sign for the environment and a visible return on investment for Will County taxpayers. For more information, visit ReconnectWithNature.org.
