Two bald eagle hatchlings have been spotted in a Chicago park, marking the raptors’ first successful wild breeding in the city in more than 100 years. Chicago Park District officials noted that bird-watchers began observing nesting activity in Park 597 along the Calumet River on the city’s Southeast Side in February. The first eaglet was seen in the nest on April 28, followed by confirmation of a second on May 7.
Irene Tostado, spokesperson for the park district, stated that the eaglets appear to be two to three weeks old. Pat Pearson and her husband, Steve, discovered the first eaglet. Steve Pearson described their experience, saying, “We started looking around, and lo and behold, this little fuzzy head sticks up with a big beak and we were just ecstatic. Patty actually broke into tears. I started crying.” The sight of the baby eagles was emotionally overwhelming due to the wonder of seeing eagles nesting with their young in Chicago.
The bald eagle population suffered significantly due to habitat degradation and insecticide contamination in the late 20th century. However, the species has rebounded over the past 40 years. The bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, was removed from the federal endangered species list in 2007.
Bald eagles are not rare in the Chicago area; the park district counted 12 bald eagles in the restored wetlands of Big Marsh Park in a single day in 2018. Stephen Bell, who manages Park 597, stated that records of successful eaglet hatching in Chicago have not been found for more than a century. Previously, the land served as a city water treatment plant until the park district took over in 2019, restoring its natural habitat.
The restoration included soil improvements, updated vegetation, and enhanced habitats for amphibians and reptiles, attracting muskrats, mice, deer, and eagles. Pat Pearson remarked, “Give Mother Nature a chance and you’d be surprised what she can do with just a little bit of help from the park district and the city of Chicago. Neither one of the organizations could have done it themselves, but between the two of them, it’s shocking what can happen to land in areas that you think are just absolutely unredeemable.”
The Associated Press photographer Erin Hooley contributed to this report.