30-04-2025
West Point eaglets die after nest knocked down by storm
MADISON TWP., Ohio (WKBN) — The Eagles Nest at West Point has been a beloved bird-watching spot for years, bringing people from across northeast Ohio to see the bald eagle pair and their eaglets.
During Tuesday's severe weather, tragedy struck, knocking the nest from the tree. The two eaglets did not survive.
'There's two babies there, a little over a month old,' said Reina Linville, a West Point resident.
A small crowd of people braved the rain to gather on East Liverpool Road just off Route 11 in West Point to see if the high winds and rain had knocked down the eagle's nest from its perch.
Local birdwatchers pointed to a mound of crushed branches and sticks as evidence that it had.
'The parents are okay, but the Eaglets, just the way everything landed, it just didn't work out,' said Jesse Janosik, an officer with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Birds in Flight Sanctuary and Janosik went on the other side of the marshy spot where the birds made their home to pick up the nest, discovering the dead eaglets as one of the parents watched from the skies.
Linville was passing by. She mourned the loss.
'The nest over the years had shifted and fell down, and this year they rebuilt. So, we were excited to see the new babies this year and that they did come back,' Linville said.
Linville runs a Facebook group dedicated to watching the birds. She feels they bring the West Point community together.
'As the years have gone by, everybody comes back, as they know. Februrary, early march, the eggs are hatching and they wait for the furry heads to pop up,' Linville said.
Ohio has gone from having around a dozen eagle nests in the 90s to now over 1,000, including eight in Columbiana County.
Locals hope the birds will display their usual resilience and rebuild.
'The nest here has fallen down before, and they've rebuilt, but hopefully they pick a better tree next time,' Janosik said.
'We're hoping that they come back and rebuild and stay in this area,' Linville said.
ODNR took custody of the eaglets, which are protected under a federal act. Janosik wasn't sure what would happen with their remains but says the remains of adult eagles are turned into a repository at the federal government, where they are given to Native American tribes for use in religious ceremonies.
ODNR has a map of confirmed eagle nests throughout Ohio on its website. Bald eagles and their nests are protected under both state and federal laws.
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