Bald eagles take up residence near Milpitas elementary school
http://abc7news.com/society/bald-eagles-take-up-residence-near-milpitas-elementary-school/1836831/
Update: Hatched! Baby bald eagle attracts shutterbugs at Milpitas school
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/21/baby-bald-eagle-hatches-at-milpitas-school/
Update: Bald eagle chick hatches in Milpitas and the public goes nuts
http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Bald-eagles-and-newly-hatched-chick-take-up-11122281.php
Update: Milpitas: Curtner's juvenile eagle takes flight
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/30/milpitas-curtners-juvenile-eagle-takes-flight/
Update: Milpitas: Curtner Elementary?s eagles return to the nest
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/06/milpitas-curtner-elementarys-eagles-return-to-the-nest/
Update: They're back! Bald eagle pair returns to nest at Bay Area elementary school
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/15/bald-eagle-pair-returns-to-nest-at-bay-area-elementary-school/
Update: Locals feared dead eagle was shot, but necropsy solves mystery, Calif. officials say
https://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/article233555882.htmlCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife Facebook Page
22 hrs
A recent investigation into a bald eagle's death showed that sometimes, not everything is as it seems at first glance.
Since 2017, a pair of bald eagles has nested near Curtner Elementary School in Milpitas. Over the last few months, the nesting pair was observed raising two offspring. The family of raptors were watched by the kids at school and the local community, and have generated quite a bit of social media chatter from local citizens. On July 13, one of the two eaglets was found dead near the nest with an obvious wound in the body cavity, generating speculation that it was poached.
Our Law Enforcement Division's Santa Clara County squad began the investigation and determined there were no reported gunshots in the area. They then sought assistance from the UC Santa Cruz Marine Lab and CDFW's Wildlife Investigations Lab to determine the circumstances of the raptor's death. The UC Santa Cruz lab X-rayed the bird to look for metal bullet fragments; none were detected. The bird was then transferred to the Wildlife Investigations Lab where a full necropsy was completed. Evidence showed that the eagle died by electrocution.
It appears the juvenile eagle was nearly -- but not fully -- developed, and inadvertently flew into a power line. Although unfortunate, such events happen on rare occasions. Consultation with wildlife officers who have conducted similar investigations of raptor deaths, combined with the experience of our lab personnel, helped confirm the telltale entry and exit wounds of a fatal electrocution, thus concluding an investigation that generated intense local public interest. We appreciate the great teamwork that helped solve this mystery.
Photo: Senior Environmental Scientist and avian specialist Krysta Rogers conducts a necropsy on a bald eagle at the Wildlife Investigations Lab in Rancho Cordova. Her necropsy showed conclusive signs of a fatal electrocution via probable contact with power lines.
