Ohio's 1st eaglet of 2005 hatches in Huron County

3/25/2005

COLUMBUS -The state's first eaglet of 2005 hatched last week in Huron County, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced yesterday.

At least one eaglet hatched March 16 in a nest under observation since early February, when incubation activity began. It will be weeks before wildlife biologists can determine how many young are in the nest.

The incubation period for bald eagles is 35 days. Young eagles fledge 72 to 75 days after hatching and leave their home nesting territory by the time they are 18 to 20 weeks old.

So far this year, ODNR's Division of Wildlife has identified a record 121 active nests in the state, continuing the bald eagle's recovery from near extinction in the 1970s.