Euthanized bald eagle died from bird flu
Officials have determined a bald eagle in Wisconsin that had to be euthanized died of bird flu.
The bald eagle was found last weekend in Bay View.
"We saw them focusing on the tree up there and then saw them building the nest," bird watcher Jan Grimes said Friday.
Neighbors who spotted them in Bay View said they watched closely for weeks as a pair moved in and began nesting, especially considering bald eagles are rare in the area.
"It's a majestic bird. It's beautiful and to see it sick it was just really sad," bird watcher Amanda Berry said.
The female was found sick on the ground.
She was taken to the Wisconsin Humane Society but had to be euthanized.
Officials suspected she was sick with bird flu.
Those suspicions were confirmed when the test results came back positive.
The bald eagle was so sick she had to be euthanized.
"Based on the symptoms we saw, we were quite suspect of this bird upon admission. Are we disheartened and sad and heartbroken? Absolutely," Wisconsin Humane Society Director Crystal Sharlow-Schaefer told sister station WISN.
Some residents shaken by the eagle's death were also now concerned about the health and safety of the many other wild birds in the area.
"If we're talking about a mass bird die-off, that would be tragic," Peter Czarkowski said.
But for the people who live in the neighborhood, there was another concern that had them watching the skies.
"We were worried could the male have it too, and would he be down. We don't know what happened to the male, but we haven't seen him for a good week," Grimes said.
The Humane Society said the male bald eagle has not been admitted and they hope he was spared from the virus.
WISN cameras spotted him near the nest almost a week ago.
But residents said they've not seen him since.
"We had the one chance to have them here in the neighborhood, and now it's gone," Berry said.