Bald eagles released into wild in Illinois

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BATAVIA, Ill., Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Two young bald eagles, saved after a storm destroyed their nest last spring, were released into the wild at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois, rescuers said.

Dawn Keller of Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation, which took care of the two male juvenile bald eagles until they were ready to be released, freed the birds in front of hundreds of onlookers Saturday, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Keller said she chose Starved Rock because of its large population of wintering bald eagles.

"I'm excited for them," said Keller. "I think they are going to do very well here at Starved Rock."

In May, a storm knocked the birds' nest out of a tree. Rescuers built the eagles a new nest, but the adult birds would not land there and the eaglets weren't getting fed and required intervention to save them.