Community Corner
Grounded Bald Eagle Rescued After Crashing Into Chicago Hotel Window (VIDEO)
Chicago police and animal control officers captured the dazed bird Monday night, and it is now recovering at a wildlife refuge.
CHICAGO, IL — People walking around with a dazed look on their face isn't an unusual sight in downtown Chicago. A bald eagle wandering city sidewalks with that look, however, is unusual, and that's what some people encountered at around 10 p.m. Monday near North Wabash Avenue and East Chestnut Street.
Chicago Animal Care and Control officials said the eagle was grounded and a bit punch-drunk after it most likely collided with one of the Sofitel Hotel's windows, CBS 2 Chicago reports. But an animal control officer and Chicago police were able to rescue the confused bird after Chicago Bird Collision Monitors received nearly a dozen calls about the eagle, the report stated. Annette Prince, director of the volunteer group that was established in 2003 to help migratory birds found in the city, told the TV station this is the first time the organization has dealt with an eagle. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)
According to animal control, the immature bald eagle is about 3 feet long and weighs about 10 pounds, the report stated. The bird was eventually captured in the hotel's lobby thanks to patient officers and a white sheet. The rescue was caught on video obtained by the Chicago Tribune, which Chicago Animal Care and Control posted on its Facebook page:
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Once the eagle was corralled, animal control delivered the bird Tuesday morning to Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation, which provides medical care, food and housing for hurt and orphaned wildlife with the goal of releasing them back into wild. The refuge has locations in Chicago and Barrington.
Flint Creek Wildlife posted a photo of its new resident on its Facebook page and said it would provide updates of the bird's recovery.
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A bald eagle was taken to Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation after it most likely crashed into the window of a downtown Chicago hotel Monday, June 12. (Photo via Chicago Animal Care and Control)
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