Once on the endangered species list, the bald eagle is making a comeback.
Bald eagle sightings have increased in Illinois as lakes and rivers freeze up north, sending eagles south in search of open water and fish, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Now, they're making appearances in Will County.
Resident Joel Craig shared a photo he snapped just north of Plainfield along the DuPage River on Saturday.
And it's not the first time the majestic bird — America's national symbol — has been spotted in the area recently.
"It’s been pretty well documented this winter that bald eagles are roosting up and down the Fox River, signaling that the eagles are making quite a comeback after years on the endangered species list," Craig said. Bald eagles were officially removed from the endangered species list in 2007, but the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service still considers them a protected species.
For that reason, bird-watchers often don't like to disclose the exact location where they've spotted bald eagles, Craig said. He said one of his friends has been spotting eagles in Shorewood this winter, and he spotted another one along the DuPage north of Wedgewood Golf Course several weeks ago.
Craig said he wasn't aware of any sightings farther north along the DuPage River.
"That is, until [Saturday], when I saw this one about 1-1/2 miles north of town," Craig said of the bird he photographed. "This is the farthest north I’ve seen or heard of any eagles along the DuPage, it’s really quite exciting!"
According to Craig, the bird in the photo is a fourth-year eagle. "You can see it still has some slight duskiness on its head," he said. "By its fifth year, the head will be completely white."
Craig said the eagle must be feeding on fish in the open water along the DuPage.
According to the state's "Save Our Eagles" website, bald eagles typically appear in Illinois in December and remain until they migrate back north in March.
Check out the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' schedule of eagle-watching events this winter.
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