Palos Township, IL–Chicago Blackhawks aren’t the only celebrated birds in town. A pair of American bald eagles recently built a nest in a cottonwood tree in the a southwest suburban part of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and are raising a clutch of hatchlings there. It marks the first time in more than 100 years that a nest could be seen in Cook County. There are about 7060 nesting bald eagles throughout the country.
The eaglets haven’t left the nest, and it will be mid-May before they depart their aerie. The family is expected to stay in the area through the summer, and should return next spring.
To keep the family safe, visitors need to keep a 500 yard distance from the nest. Like any nesting bird, they can be very territorial. It can be seen by looking north across Tampier Slough from 131st Street, between Wolf Road to the east and Will-Cook Road to the west.
The forest preserve offers regular updates and video if you can’t wait.