Two baby bald eagles were rescued after a wind blew their nest down in Longmeadow, Mass., on Tuesday, April 29, according to the Longmeadow Fire Department (LFD) news release.
The LFD was called to report to the Fannie Stebbins Memorial Wildlife Refuge after a pair of eaglets, approximately 7 and 8 weeks old, were cut off from their nest. After the wind blew down their nest, they were found in a swampy area.
Firefighters and wildlife rehabilitator Tom Ricardi report that the birds are “in good health,” per the news release. “The eaglets were brought to Pondside Drive and will go to Ricardi’s facility, where they will be cared for until they can be released back into the wild.”
Bald eagles build the largest nests amongst birds, and are typically five to six feet in diameter and two to four feet tall, according to All About Birds. “They tend to use tall, sturdy conifers that protrude above the forest canopy, providing easy flight access and good visibility,” per the website.
Nests can take up to three months to build, and typically contain sticks, grass, moss, cornstalks, lichen, fine woody material, downy feathers and sometimes greenery.
Nests are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, making it illegal for people to “take” bald or golden eagles, including their parts (including feathers), nests, or eggs.
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A representative for the Longmeadow Fire Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Thursday.
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