UIS professor relocates endangered ospreys to Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A University of Illinois Springfield professor and the Illinois Audubon Society are partnering to relocate endangered birds to the state.

Ten 6-week-old ospreys were being transported to Decatur from Virginia on Wednesday. The university says the birds will be tagged at the Illinois Raptor Center in Decatur and later released near Lake Shelbyville and along the Illinois River near Canton.

Ospreys are fish-eating birds of prey that are listed as endangered in Illinois.

Tih-Fen Ting is an associated professor of environmental studies. Ting has received a multi-year federal grant to establish a breeding population of the birds in Illinois.

The Illinois Audubon Society is contributing $3,000 to transport the birds. The flight is in partnership with Southern Illinois University's aviation program.