Conservation officers search for nest of dead bald eagle

JASPER, Ind. (AP) – Conservation officers are searching for the nest and possible young eaglets of a bald eagle that died after apparently being shot in southern Indiana.

The injured eagle was found March 19 in northwestern Dubois County and died en route to a raptor center.

X-rays showed it had bullet fragments in its body.

An examination found the eagle had a bare spot on its abdomen that occurs when nesting eagles sit on eggs to warm them while their mate is hunting for food.

Conservation Officer Joe Haywood tells The Herald conservation officers planned to survey nearby eagle nesting sites Friday by airplane to try to find a single-parent nest.

If that nest is found, they’ll monitor it to make sure the surviving eagle can provide food for its young.