A bald eagle returns to the nest -- and his waiting mate -- with a large fish in his talons. The nesting pair and their brood have made their home in Tampier Slough Woods forest preserve in Cook County's Palos Township. (Chuck Berman, Chicago Tribune)
On a small stretch of road in southwest suburban Palos Township, a steady stream of birders and nature lovers clambered on the rocky terrain last week to lay eyes on a rare sight.
They strained and peered through powered scopes into the Tampier Slough Woods forest preserve, where, in a leafless cottonwood about 500 yards away, a dark blob morphed into clear view: a statuesque American bald eagle resting proudly over her newly hatched babies.
"I never thought I'd see anything like it," said John Fletcher, of Palos Heights. "It's incredible."
Acting on a tip from a bird-watcher, officials with the Cook County Forest Preserve District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spotted the nesting pair last month and confirmed that the mother had indeed laid two to three eggs. Though there have been other sightings of bald eagle nests in the Chicago area, it is believed that this is the first publicly viewable site where eggs have been laid and hatched in Cook County in more than a century, according to forest preserve officials.
Experts attribute it to cleaner waterways and more suitable habitats for flora and fauna throughout the state. Forest preserve officials said the nesting eagles are a testament to their mission of restoring and protecting the ecosystems of thousands of county acres.
"It tells us that we're doing the right thing," said Chris Merenowicz, director of the district's resource management department. "This bird is our national symbol. To see a regal bird like that in your backyard is the coolest thing in the world."
According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, bald eagle numbers plummeted nationwide decades ago because of deforestation and over-hunting of eagles and their favored food sources, such as ducks and shorebirds. Also, levels of the pesticide DDT built up in eagles and caused them to lay eggs with such thin shells that they cracked before they could hatch. By 1963, there were fewer than 500 breeding pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 states.
Legislation to save and protect eagle populations began about 70 years ago, first halting hunting and eventually banning DDT and similar pesticides.
Thanks to such efforts, experts say, bald eagles made a remarkable recovery. The population of nesting pairs in the lower 48 states rose from 487 in 1963 to 9,789 in 2006. The growth is also evident locally. Fish and Wildlife Service statistics show the number of nesting pairs in Illinois increased from eight in 1990 to 100 in 2006, the most recent year data were available. Some estimate there are more than 150 pairs in the state today.
The beloved raptor and national symbol was officially removed from the U.S. list of endangered and threatened species in 2007.
"They're truly a great American conservation success story," said Tom Clay, executive director of the Illinois Audubon Society. "We saw what we were doing and we stopped it, turned it around and started cleaning up our act with our natural resources. It makes us realize that we need to conserve what we have and keep it for generations to come."
Bald eagles are known to pair for life and often return to the same nest year after year. They typically nest near water, close to their main food source of fish. It is no accident that the birds in Palos picked the tallest tree around for their home. Voracious predators, eagles sit atop the food chain and prefer an expansive view to keep watch for prey and potential threats to their young.
Steve Ambrose, of Westmont, was among those enjoying the view on a recent morning. Ambrose, 53, said he was on a bird-watching trip with his stepfather, Bob Schuit, last month when he spotted the nest while driving west on 131st Street.
Ambrose, who has been bird-watching for six years, went back later for a closer look.
"I was surprised and excited," he said, standing next to his Swarovski 20-to-60 zoom scope. "I thought I saw a white head, but I thought it was just a nest (at first). I saw the eagle incubating. Over the past week, both of the adults appeared to be feeding the little ones."
John Fletcher and his wife, Janine, inched over as Ambrose spoke. Unable to get a clear view with their binoculars, they asked if they could take a peek with Ambrose's more powerful scope.
"I can't believe this," Janine Fletcher gasped, peering through the lens. "I expected to see just a shadow of the bird. It's really awesome."
Diane Senese, of Palos Park, could barely contain herself when her eyes focused on the female eagle moving about the nest, estimated to be about 6 feet wide.
"It was like seeing a new baby," she said with a wide grin. "They are just the most beautiful birds. It is so exciting to see nature so close by."