Ohio's 1st eaglet of 2004 hatches in Sandusky Co.

3/19/2004

FREMONT - The first eaglet of Ohio's 2004 nesting season has hatched in a Sandusky County nest, according to the state Division of Wildlife.

Mark Shieldcastle, head biologist at the state's Crane Creek Wildlife Research Station in Ottawa County, said yesterday that a nest near Fremont produced at least one newborn eagle March 7.

Volunteers also are watching another Sandusky County nest and one in Huron County where eaglets may have hatched, he said.

Statewide, at least 98 eagle pairs are incubating eggs on 60 nests, Mr. Shieldcastle said. Unfortunately, four nests with eggs in them were destroyed March 5 when winds gusting to 50 mph and above tore through northern Ohio, he added. The ruined nests were in Ashtabula, Delaware, Sandusky, and Seneca counties.