Eaglets in Will County indicate a good habitat
The bald eagles have landed in Will County.
They also have mated, nested and given rise to a new generation of eaglets. And those may be becoming more common happenings in the area.
The Forest Preserve District of Will County confirmed in late April that two eaglets were spotted in an undisclosed location within its boundaries. Bertrand Leclercq, a regular contributor to the Will County Wildlife Facebook Group, captured images of the eaglets.
Leclercq, a 48-year-old originally from France and now living in Naperville, regularly hikes and takes photos across the Will County preserves.
“I have a job that can be stressful at times, so when I have a day off, I go out and take photos in the preserves,” Leclercq said. “I like to look for bald eagles, especially.”
This winter, he was walking in a preserve when he saw a nest and a couple of eagles bringing branches to it. He decided to come back on a mid-April afternoon when he saw the eagles carrying fish back to the nest. He decided to wait — for nearly two hours — more than the National Audubon Society’s recommended 330 feet from the nest.
“I always make sure I’m not interfering with the animals,” he said. “I don’t want the animals to see me.”
Bald eagle nests typically measure 4-5 feet wide and 2-4 feet deep, according to the district, making it hard to spot eaglets when they are first born. But Leclercq knows eaglets typically feed hourly, so he waited.
His patience paid off when he saw two immature bald eagles, which remain mostly brown until they are 4-5 years old, at which point they showcase their trademark white heads.
“I was very excited,” Leclercq said. The nest is one of two known eagle nests within the district, though following federal regulations, the district never divulges locations to help protect the birds. The nest spotted by Leclercq also produced two offspring last year, according to the district. Nests may require maintenance but are often used year after year by eagles.
An increasing number of immature bald eagles signals that the adult birds may be residents of the area rather than migrants, according to the district. It also signals that the preserves have good, clean water and a healthy fish population.
“Apparently we’re meeting all their requirements if they’re having successful nests,” said Bob Bryerton, an interpretive naturalist with the district. “We get to see eagles now because we’re taking care of our habitat. They’ll build a nest, and if they’re successful there, if they’re getting food for the babies and getting everything they need and they’re not having to work super hard to do that … they’ll return and they’ll nest again.”
Eagles have been rebounding since the 1970s, according to the district. Some even stay in Illinois year-round now, rather than going north during the summer. Though, many still migrate to the state in the winter.
They are often found near open water, where they feed. They can get by on smaller lakes and water, but river corridors such as the Des Plaines and Kankakee — “bigger water,” as Bryerton describes it — tend to be popular for eagles.
“Along the river corridors, they’re a little more numerous,” Bryerton said.
Courtship typically takes place in January
and early February in the Midwest, with eggs being laid at the end of February, according to the district. Eaglets start exploring outside of the nest roughly 10 weeks after hatching. At 12 weeks, they will start testing their wings, but remain in the area with their parents for the rest of the summer and into the fall. Eventually, though, they need their own territory, according to Bryerton.
“They do have to find their own space at some point,” he explained. “Their parents pretty much have that area established. Once they’re adults, they’re not going to share. Resources are pretty limited.”
Northern eagles typically migrate south for open-water fishing during the winter, which is when they are often spotted in the Will County preserves. They can often be seen at Lake Renwick Preserve in Plainfield, McKinley Woods in Channahon, Rock Run Rookery Preserve in Joliet and Whalon Lake in Naperville.
Leclercq said Channahon is one of his favorite spots to explore because he tends to see a lot of eagles there, but he knows of five or six nests across the Chicago area. He first became fascinated with the birds because they are a symbol of the United States.
“It’s a very beautiful bird, big bird,” he said. “I think it’s the most captivating bird in the country.”
When he spots eagles or any other great sights in the preserves, he shares images with the Facebook group. He enjoys seeing what others post there, as well.
“That’s how I met a lot of people who share the same passion as me,” he said. “That’s how I got more interested, more involved with the wildlife in our area.”
Bryerton said bald eagle sightings are more common than people may realize these days, with the population growing. There are more nests not only in the preserves but also the surrounding area. Bryerton started bird-watching in the early 1990s, when seeing a bald eagle was a “super-big deal” because of the rarity.
“Since that time, the eagles have done really, really well,” Bryerton said. “I know I’m seeing them on a more regular basis than they were in the past.”
Part of it is just knowing what to look for, Bryerton said. While eagles are big birds, the area also has hawks and vultures, so people often assume a big bird is one of those. But bald eagles look bigger and flatter when flying than most other birds in the area, Bryerton explained.
“It takes a little bit of practice to get the eye to spot the eagle,” he added.
Despite sightings becoming more common, Bryerton said it is still cool any time he gets to witness a bald eagle flying, sitting, tending to a nest or anything else.
“It never gets old,” he said. “I still get worked up. It’s still amazing to see an eagle. I never get tired of seeing them. It’s just cool that they’re here.”