(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Wildlife experts say Will County likely will be seeing a few more bald eagles hatching there in the next few weeks.
Bob Bryerton, program coordinator of the Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township, says there are a couple of female bald eagles that are hunkered down in their nests and behaving as if they’re keeping eggs warm. Their eggs should begin hatching in early April.
“You can usually can tell once they’ve hatched because the behavior changes. The male starts bringing in a lot more food because the babies are now growing and they need food.”
A couple of weeks later, the baby eagles should be able to stick their heads up and peek over the top of the nests.
Bryerton says the nests can weigh a couple of thousand pounds because eagles continue to add to them year after year.
Illinois is the state in the Lower 48 where more bald eagles choose to winter than any other state. He says that’s because they can find food along waterways like the Mississippi River and Illinois River.
He says only Alaska has more wintering bald eagles than Illinois.
The locations of the nests are kept secret to protect the majestic birds. If you do happen to spot a nest, Bryerton suggests you keep your distance and view them from afar.
If a bald eagle stares at you or looks your, you’re too close, he says.
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