Wind knocks over eagle nest into swampy area — then rescuers discover miracle
Strong gusts of wind knocked down a bald eagle nest with two growing eaglets in Massachusetts.
The nest plunged into a swampy area at Fannie Stebbins Memorial Wildlife Refuge, the Longmeadow Fire Department said in an April 29 Facebook post.
Firefighters went to the area to try and rescue the birds, and discovered the pair was still alive, officials said.
They retrieved the eaglets, which are estimated to be 7 or 8 weeks old, with the help of wildlife rehabilitator Tom Ricardi, fire officials said.
The eaglets appeared to be in “good health” and will be taken to Ricardi’s facility.
While there, wildlife workers will help rehabilitate the eaglets so they can eventually be released back into the wild.
Bald eagle chicks fledge from the nest when they are 12 weeks old, according to the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey.
“The timing of actual fledging can be influenced by human activity or disturbance around the nest, causing a premature fledge. This can result in injury or even death of the eaglet,” the bird conservation group said.
Young eaglets become self-sufficient in the wild from 17 to 23 weeks old.
