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scenario is particularly true as a chick nears fledging. Occasionally, low prey availability either
from loss of one or both parents or failure of a prey source will cause a chick to abandon its nest.
No matter the cause, a young eagle that is on the ground after a fall from a great height may have
suffered serious injury, including fractured bones, head injury, or internal injuries. It is also very
possible for an eaglet to survive such a fall in miraculous fashion, with few if any injuries. The
chick should be carefully evaluated in the field. Photos taken in the field and sent to the wildlife
rehabilitator play an important role in evaluating the eaglet and making a choice to bring it into
captive care or simply replace it in the nest.

Mortality­in the Wild

The mortality of raptors is high in the first year of life, even in the best of circumstances with natu-
ral nests and wild parents. Sources suggest over 50% of Bald Eagles in wild nests die in their first
year of life. Causes of mortality at the nest vary greatly and include siblicide, weather events, low
prey availability, hazardous material such as fishing line in the nest, or even ingestion of tainted
food delivered by the parent. Post‐fledging causes of mortality include that of a weak individual
unable to hunt adequately or compete with their counterparts, injuries due to disputes with other
eagles, vehicle collisions, illegal shootings, encountering other obstacles such as wind turbines, or
toxin ingestion. Rearing an eagle in captivity without the advantage of a species‐specific foster par-
ent to teach it hunting, vocalizations, cues for social behavior, and survival techniques, reduces its
chance of success.

­ Re-nesting­and Fostering

Return­to Natural­Nest
This option can be used if the original nest and supporting structures are stable. After a physical
examination, if an eaglet that has not yet fledged is found to be healthy, with no serious injuries,
and can eat and digest food, the best option for the eaglet and its family is to return it to its own
nest. The temptation to remove an otherwise healthy eaglet from his nest area for captive care
should be avoided.
Adult eagles will accept a returned chick if it is behaving and vocalizing normally. Siblings of the
same nest will accept the chick, if the food supply is adequate for all nestmates and the age of the
chicks is within a few days of each other. Rejection occurs when a chick is not well or unable to
compete with the siblings. A nonviable chick at the nest may endanger the eagle family. When
returning a chick to its nest, take a light towel (not frayed) or similar weight material with you.
After replacing a chick in the nest, place the towel over it and the sibling for a few minutes and
back out of the nest bowl. The weight of the towel is important as it allows the chicks to feel
“brooded.” They will settle and the panicked “fight or flight” response to danger will abate. After a
few moments, slowly remove the towel and continue your descent.
Do not attempt to replace a chick if it or the siblings are near fledging. The disturbance created
by climbing the nest tree and approaching the nest may cause the eaglets in the nest to bolt and
leave the nest prematurely. An option for a nearly‐fledged chick is to place it on a sturdy adjacent
tree. This technique allows an older chick to vocalize to the adults alerting them to its presence, as
well as allow it to return to or near the nest on its own. Leave the area immediately or the eagles
may not be comfortable approaching the youngster. Monitoring can be carried out if necessary,
using a spotting scope at a distance.