Bald Eagle Shooting Update:
Nest of Bald Eagle Shot March 14 Has Been Located
McLean County Crime Stoppers Offering Reward for Information about Shooting

[March 28, 2015]  The nest of an American Bald Eagle that died of a gunshot wound in McLean County March 14 has been located. The eagle had a brood patch, a featherless area on its underside, indicating it likely had been incubating eggs.

Staff at the Illinois Raptor Center in Decatur, where the eagle was taken for treatment, said eggs or recently-hatched chicks likely would perish if left unattended. Initially, it was thought to be impossible to locate the nest until authorities got a lucky break this week.

A concerned citizen that had been watching a nesting pair of bald eagles contacted the IRC to report only one eagle had been tending the nest since the day of the shooting. The citizen submitted photographs of the eagles, and IRC staff members were able to match the photos due to an unusual anomaly visible on the foot of the eagle that had been shot. The eagle that had been shot was observed to have two talons that grew straight out, not curved as is normal. Photographs submitted showed this same anomaly.

Illinois Conservation Police contacted the citizen to obtain the history of the nest. IRC staff members went to the nest site this week and observed a single adult bald eagle tending the nest. One chick was observed and another possibly heard.

The IRC has contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service to provide a progress report. The IRC has been instructed that as long as there is a parent bird at the nest site, and still caring for the chicks, the IRC is not authorized to remove chicks from the nest. Eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and have strong legal protections. The IRC concurs with the Service’s position.

“We have faith in the strength of this one remaining parent, so far he’s doing a great job,” said Jacques Nuzzo, IRC Program Director. “He is being monitored and we will update the public later on the eaglet’s progress.”

The nest is on private property and access to the nest would be trespassing. It is IRC policy not to reveal nest sites.

Background:

On Saturday March 14 an American bald eagle was recovered in a farm field near the intersection of the Danvers – Yuton blacktop (1700N) and IL Rt.150. by the Illinois Conservation Police. The eagle was taken to the Illinois Raptor Center where it was examined and later died from a gunshot wound.

An investigation is ongoing by the Illinois Conservation Police. Crime Stoppers will pay cash rewards up to $1,000 for the information leading to the arrest and indictment of the people who commit felony crimes in McLean County. If you have any information on this shooting please contact the Conservation Police at [phone].

Illinois Raptor Center]