Baby eagles rescued after nest falls at Longmeadow wildlife refuge

LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - Over the years, more and more eagles have been spotted in western Massachusetts, and earlier this week, some concerned residents spotted two baby eagles in trouble after their nest had fallen out of a tree.

The nest the eagles were in was at the Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge in Longmeadow. "The nest had fallen out of the tree and was in a swampy area and it was clear the eagles didn't have the ability to get themselves out of that situation. I don't think they were able to fly yet," said Deputy Chief Andrew Markt of the Longmeadow Fire Department.

Neighbors had called a wildlife specialist but were concerned he wouldn't be able to get to the birds, so they asked the Longmeadow Fire Department for help. They said that the eaglets were estimated to be between seven and eight weeks old.

"We were able to utilize one of our boats with several of our members to help get that wildlife specialist across the swamp safely," said Andrew Markt.

The baby eagles were brought to shore and our now being taken care of by Tom Ricardi at the Massachusetts Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center in Conway.

"We were able to utilize one of our boats with several of our members to help get that wildlife specialist across the swamp safely," said Andrew Markt.

Renée Rutana witnessed the rescue and also sent 22News the pictures and videos she took,
"Mr. Ricardi disappeared into the woods and he was gone for about 10, 15 minutes deep into the woods you couldn't see what was going on. One of the firefighters stayed on the row boat while the other went with him to try and find the eaglets that had fallen from the nest," said Renée Rutana of Chicopee.

The birds will be rehabilitated and then when they're ready, they'll be released back into the wild.

All About Birds states that juvenile bald eagles have a brown body and white, mottled wings. The tail is also mottled with white and a dark band at the tip. Bald eagles typically live near bodies of water, where they use shoreline habitats and forested areas for nesting. They prefer bodies of water with a good supply of moderate- to large-sized fish.

Just last year, the bald eagle became the official U.S. bird on Christmas Eve. Bald eagles are still considered a “special concern” under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act and are protected under federal and state law. It is illegal to destroy, relocate, or possess bald eagles, their nests, and eggs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Federal law also protects all parts of bald eagles, alive or dead, including feathers and egg shells, without a federal, state, or tribal permit.

Adult bald eagles can live up to 30 years, however, mortality is high among immature bald eagles. MassWildlife has tips on spotting an eagle:

• Eagles are drawn to open waters. When lakes and ponds begin to freeze, there are fewer areas of open waters which may make eagles easier to find.
• Eagles often gather below dams if water is being released.
• If you see an eagle once, visit that site again. Eagles tend to return to the same section of shoreline or even the same tree throughout the season and year after year.
• Look for large nests in big trees. Massachusetts is home to over 70 nesting pairs. If you do spot a nest, keep your distance and observe from afar.
• If you see an eagle, watching with binoculars from inside your vehicle is a great way to observe the birds without disturbing them and you’ll stay warm.

If you see a bald eagle in your community, you can share it with 22News by emailing reportit@wwlp.com!