American bald eagle makes its way to Prospect Heights' slough
Editor's note: The Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission has released this firsthand account of one of its commissioner's observation of an American bald eagle at the Prospect Heights Hillcrest Lake and slough area.
I have the good fortune of being able to observe Hillcrest Lake on a daily basis.
Two days after Thanksgiving, among the usual seagulls, Canada geese and mallard ducks, a particularly large bird was swooping around low over the lake. It clearly was not one of the several red tail hawks or owls I see in the area; it was larger.
On closer inspection, I saw its bald, white head and snow white tail feathers and realized our bald eagle had returned for some lunch. I'd seen him once before in the distance about a month earlier.
This time he was here for a prolonged visit as he scanned the lake with several turns and finally dove to the lake, crashing its surface with its talons and arising with a nice, 12-inch fish. He carried it to a tree on the east side of the lake and began eating it under the mid afternoon sun. I was able to affix my spotting scope on it and took several digital photographs, but it was still at some distance for a clear shot.
When finished, he took off again and did the familiar swoop. All the other birds cleared out for his acrobatics, and on his second attempt for another fish he missed. He now flew to a tree on the west side of the lake and perched, overlooking the entire scene, in no particular hurry.
Luckily, this perch was only about 50 yards from me and my scope, and I was able to capture multiple zoomed-in shots of the majestic bird.
His "bald" head was mildly spotted with darker feathers, indicating a juvenile eagle, but nearing adulthood very soon. His stern look, curved, yellow hooked beak, broad wings and thickly tufted legs all were clearly visible, confirming its bold strength and character, and making me realize firsthand why this bird is our national symbol.
Bald eagles have been very rare, if not completely absent, in the Chicago area for decades. They have been sighted with more frequency along our river waterways, most often the Mississippi and Illinois rivers; however, sightings away from these areas are much less frequent.
Recently, a nesting pair has been seen at Busse Woods Forest Preserve, and one would have to wonder if this particular bird is one of those, or perhaps one of their offspring looking for more hunting territory.
Either way, it is a testament to the health of the slough and Hillcrest Lake area in Prospect Heights, and to the success of the restoration work that has been done in the past several years (and that still is being done).
The variety of birds being sighted in the area has grown exponentially, as the invasive plant species such as buckthorn has been removed and native grass and tree species of Northeast Illinois have been allowed to return. Native species allow the more numerous and healthy insect species to thrive, and thus the entire food chain benefits.
The sighting of bald eagles on the lake brings attention to its health and the quality of the water and fish population within it. This clearly is a waterway to be respected and cared for, not only for our human enjoyment, but that from which our enjoyment rises - the return of wildlife and its utilization of the nourishment it provides for survival.
• Additional information about the Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission and the area's natural resources, native prairies and volunteer activity days is available at www.phnrc.com.