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Eagle has landed
By Scott Richardson
srichardson@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON — Miller Park Zoo Superintendent John Tobias was a bit worried Tuesday when someone came to the zoo office to ask if he had a new animal living at the Bloomington facility. | Photo gallery

Indeed, the zoo acquired a rare Amur leopard last week. But this visitor was asking about the bald eagle perched in a tree above the eagle display.

Oh, oh, Tobias thought. How could one of the zoo’s two permanently disabled eagles, Beauty or Mathata, find a way out of the display? True, their area has no roof, but neither bird can fly after the accidents that landed them in captivity.

A quick glance confirmed both of the birds were where they were supposed to be. That meant the bird in the tree was a wild mature eagle paying a brief visit to his captive counterparts.

“I think it’s pretty neat,” said Tobias. “Even though you work with these animals on a day-to-day basis, it actually is a thrill to see them in the wild.”

“It was very cool,” added zoo marketing coordinator Susie Ohley, who’d never seen a free-flying eagle before she arrived at work Tuesday morning.

In 15 years at the zoo, Tobias had seen migrating eagles pass over the Twin Cities or an occasional osprey, another type of raptor, stop at the park’s lagoon.

Angelo Capparella, an ornithologist at Illinois State University and member of the John Wesley Powell Audubon Society based in McLean County, said eagles are on the move this time of year as they return to their summer homes in northern states and Canada or scout for mates right here in Illinois.

But a visit by a wild eagle to civilization is very unusual, he said.

“They are usually skittish of humans. To be right in Miller Park, I would not have expected that,” Capparella said.

Usually standoffish, this eagle tolerated gawking humans and early-morning dog walkers before it flew from tree to tree and finally to a cemetery across the street.

Beauty and Mathata apparently were a little apprehensive. Usually noisy in the morning, both were absolutely quiet while their uninvited guest was nearby, Tobias said.

Tobias speculated the wild bird may have flown into the zoo to investigate after hearing Beauty make sounds at some point. She’s recently been building a nest. But, unable to fly, she can’t take part in the courtship rituals that take place in flight high above the ground, he said.

Capparella cautioned people to give eagles room when they see one. Eagles are protected by federal and state laws. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources recently announced a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever shot and killed two eagles in Fulton County.

“We want them to see humans as something to be avoided because some of them should be avoided,” he said

Take a look
A wild eagle watches the female eagle at Miller Park Zoo on Tuesday (April 24, 2007). The zoo's eagles were rescued from the wild after injuries they suffered made them unable to fly (Pantagraph/David Proeber)
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Reader comments on this story - 34 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

to:reality wrote on Apr 25, 2007 9:40 PM:

" Yes crows are protect except b/w Oct - Feb. that is hunting season "

To:This wasn't a bald eagle wrote on Apr 25, 2007 3:17 PM:

" Are you Nancy Pelosi , Osama bin Laden and the Ameren propaganda specialists sharing an omelet together? "

To: To Mr. Nookie wrote on Apr 25, 2007 3:08 PM:

" Sounds to me like Mr. Nookie is not the only one to get off of the subject and I'm sure your grandson is just proud as punch having you post about his sexual prowess, or lack thereof. For his sake, thank you for not posting your name. "

Harry wrote on Apr 25, 2007 12:00 PM:

" It sound's like you know your way around (PEROIA) "

kathy wrote on Apr 25, 2007 11:36 AM:

" UNEXPECTED BEAUTIFUL SIGHT !!! ALTHOUGH LIVING IN HAVANA, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO SEE THEM EVEN LAND IN OUR FRONT YARD BY RIVER !!! HEAVEN SENT ! "

TO MR. NOOKIE wrote on Apr 25, 2007 11:27 AM:

" I to save my soul, can not understand how disrespectful people can get. I know that some maybe don't think before they write and make remark's that can and do hurt other people for lot's of reason's. It is pretty sad when someone make's a comment on a story about the (EAGLE'S) and it turn's into a story about (SEX). I have a grandson that has been in a wheel chair for many year's, I have never heard him complain about (ANYTHING). But if there was a way that his mind could be read, I think that there is a lot of thing's that hurt him, but he keep's it to his self. He is just like everyone else, he has sexual need's, he just can't get the job done, then we have someone like you that bring's up (NOOKIE) I'm sure everyone know's what that old word mean's, and I'm sure that my Grandson, being smart as he is also know's what it mean's but he is man enough to except it, it's a shame you can't be man enough to keep comment's like this out of your comment's. How would you feel sitting in a wheel chair. "

awwed for eagles wrote on Apr 25, 2007 11:22 AM:

" this is an interesting story. i used to live over by miller park and i can agree with you, it is a pretty noisy place when you are use to a quite evening in the country. lets hope the eagle stays a while so i can see it and say that i saw a real wild eagle here in bloomington ill. i think i might stop by and visit you and your creatures. FUN!! FUN!! "

i just``` wrote on Apr 25, 2007 10:24 AM:

" love the word nookie!!!!!!! "

Harry wrote on Apr 25, 2007 8:14 AM:

" I have seen Eagles at the Makinaw River out by Lexington. Sighting was made jsut after bad weather came into the area from the west. Guessed maybe the Eagles were blown in by the weather. You might say it was 'Fowl Weather'. "

Seeing eagles wrote on Apr 25, 2007 7:17 AM:

" You can go to the following and see eagles. Starve Rock Lock & Dam has a great viewing. Any where from Pekin to The southern point of Illinois River. The Lock & Dam south of Thompson Illinois has a nest about 200 feet off the road. Everyon can see it. The eagles feed on the south side of the Dam. Anywhere along the river at the smal towns there are areas to stop and you can see eagles. The best time is during the months of Jan - March. When it warms up most eagles will move north. Some have made Illinois their homes. There are a number of nest along the Illinois and mississipp Rivers, but you have to look hard to find them. I have seven that I photograph and it is a wonderfull sight to see babies when they have just gotton to start moving around their nest. "

Awesome Photo wrote on Apr 25, 2007 6:51 AM:

" Thanks, David. I set it as my background on my PC. "

Harry wrote on Apr 25, 2007 6:12 AM:

" The closest place the Eagle would have come from is the Ill River in Peroia. Imagine someone or something coming from Peoria to Blm for a 'date' when it usally the other way around. "

Reader wrote on Apr 25, 2007 6:00 AM:

" This is neat. I took my kids to Miller Park Zoo a few weeks ago and my 13 year old was very disturbed to see the two disabled eagles, they need to post more information regarding what happened to them. It was very cool though to be able to see them up so close and study their physique and the wild screeching noise they make when they get excited. "

to: reality..... wrote on Apr 25, 2007 5:42 AM:

" crows are protected by the federal goverment. that means they are protected everywere. look it up. so are robbins, cardinals, blue jays, the list goes on. however unless it is on the indangered or threatned list your not going to here much about any crimes done to them. "

Nookie? wrote on Apr 25, 2007 2:31 AM:

" I think eagles mate in the air. No wheelchair stuck eagle's gonna get any nookie :( Maybe a catapult? "

Candy wrote on Apr 25, 2007 1:20 AM:

" There are many places in Illinois that you can see Eagles in the wild in Illinois in the winter time. We go to the Alton, Illinois area and drive along the Great River Road which is a great place to see Eagles from late December thru March. Also in Grafton, Illinois about 25 miles from Alton they have Eagle days in late November where you can have your photo taken with an Eagle. In January this same Eagle can be seen at the Alton vistor center in Alton, Illinois. This Eagle is being care for by the State of Mo. because of being hurt by a car while feeding and is unable to fly. But there are other places in Illinois to see Eagles in the wild. "

What... wrote on Apr 24, 2007 11:02 PM:

" do we care about the wind farm in this article. Will you people write your letter to the editor and get your point across. To the guy that says he's a member of the zoo, what house do you live in, so that when I come there I'll visit you. "

These birds... wrote on Apr 24, 2007 11:00 PM:

" are so graceful and beautiful to watch fly. Anyone that kills them should be shot themselves to see how it feels. I can't find any reason for killing them. This bird is looking for a little nooky and found it at the zoo. They may just have a couple little eagles in time. That would be so awsome to go see. I would definitely make a point to go see that. Please folks don't go flocking there and scare him away. "

Where wrote on Apr 24, 2007 8:14 PM:

" I did not read anything in this story about the wind farm people. Was that quoted at the meeting you attended, when you found out soooo much about the farms? "

nice pic wrote on Apr 24, 2007 7:46 PM:

" David! "

to: "To this wasn't a bald eagle" wrote on Apr 24, 2007 5:32 PM:

" I don't think the writer was being serious. He/she was just simply stating something the windfarm people MIGHT say. You are not to bright with concepts are ya? Anyway, cool story. I am going to be in B/N tomorrow, I just might have to drive through Miller Park to see if it's still there. I haven't seen one in the wild for many years. "

eagles wrote on Apr 24, 2007 4:42 PM:

" a couple years ago there was a pair of bald eagles staying at clinton lake. there was a pair seen passing through mclean county about 4 years ago. most bald eagles stay close to moving water like the illinois or mississippi river. the one may have been passing through the area and found the ones at miller park and may stay. breeding pairs would be cool. "

Reality_Can_Be_Hell wrote on Apr 24, 2007 4:37 PM:

" I personaly think that this story was awesome. I have seen many bald Eagles flying over this town and in other parts of the country but they are such beautiful birds I find it a breath taking experiance every time I see one in flight. To the ones who shot the Eagles in fulton county I hope they didnt intentinaly shoot at them know they was eagles. Then again considering that so few can tell the differance between a sparrow and a hawk, is why all birds of prey other than the crow is protected in IL. "

Wow! wrote on Apr 24, 2007 4:05 PM:

" I feel dumber for having come here. "

Seriously wrote on Apr 24, 2007 3:52 PM:

" If you want to comment go to a Bush story. "

TO: This wasn't a bald eagle wrote on Apr 24, 2007 3:43 PM:

" I guess the pictures lie. "

Zoo wrote on Apr 24, 2007 2:46 PM:

" I wished I would of been at the zoo when the Eagle was there. I'm an annual membership memeber of course !!! "

...... wrote on Apr 24, 2007 2:35 PM:

" cool story. hope they stay safe from our fellow humans. "

Glorious! wrote on Apr 24, 2007 2:34 PM:

" This is surely a sign that we need to stay the course and never give up in Iraq. Right on W! "

This wasn't a bald eagle wrote on Apr 24, 2007 2:32 PM:

" The wind farm company said there weren't any bald eagles near the wind farm. I'm sure this is just a big sparrow or pigeon. "

Yeah... wrote on Apr 24, 2007 2:23 PM:

" ...that's it, joe, because that bird knows it's a patriotic symbol. "

how... wrote on Apr 24, 2007 2:14 PM:

" ....very cool! "

someone shot and killed 2 eagles? wrote on Apr 24, 2007 2:13 PM:

" that is pretty weak and sick on their part. What kind of jerk gets off on killing animals like that? "

joe wrote on Apr 24, 2007 1:59 PM:

" Maybe he is trying to send us a patriotic message?? "
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