COLUMBUS, Ohio — Bird watchers who sit along Dublin Road near downtown Columbus say an eagle is missing from its nest.
The watchers don't know if it's Apollo or Annie who has been missing since Monday. They say it's hard to tell which one is which unless they are next to each other.
Gary Miller, who has been watching the eagles since 2018, said he first noticed a juvenile eagle invaded their nest on Monday. Since then, one of the eagles has been missing.
Miller, who is from Hilliard, said he's been taking photos of Annie for six years and has witnessed what he believes is nine eaglets leave the nest over time (two others passed away). He's also witnessed Annie losing her first mate, John, years ago.
"I've just gotten to know them and it's just every time they leave, land or take off flying, it's an incredible thing to watch. It's just been fun to see their lives," Miller said.
Miller said a juvenile eagle invaded the nest on Monday and it has stayed around since then. He doesn't know if the juvenile has anything to do with the disappearance of the other eagle.
Jo Baumgartner, of Grove City, said the eagle's disappearance is a serious concern.
"It's really hard when there's eggs up there that they can protect that egg or even when the eaglet is hatched. There's predators that come in that will try to harm them. There's also a couple juvenile eagles coming around that will harass the eagle and the nest," Baumgartner said.
Like Miller, she's been coming to Dublin Road to watch the birds for years.
Baumgartner doesn't want to speculate on what she thinks happen. She said the eagles can leave for a few days, but not typically when there are eggs in the nest.
"I don't know if something attacked one of the eagles. Whether it got hit by a car or whether it ended up being a sick or if it was in a fight and killed or injured and it could laying somewhere. We don't know," Baumgartner said.
Baumgartner said people are watching the nest all day to see if they can see two eagles switching places on the nest, as Apollo and Annie will take turns.
Like Miller, Baumgartner enjoys sitting on the other side of the guard rail on Dublin Road to watch the eagles perched up along the Scioto River.
"We just enjoy seeing our national bird. It's just so fascinating to be so close to them and actually be able to see them on the nest, watch them turn the eggs, watch the little eaglets when they pop their heads up out of the nest. It's a blessing," Baumgartner said.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says they're looking into the situation but they don't have any information to share.