COLUMBUS, Ohio — The eagle that went missing from its nest on Dublin Road near downtown Columbus earlier this month was confirmed to be the female eagle that bird watchers called Annie.
The watchers originally didn’t know if it was Apollo or Annie who went missing since it can be hard to tell which one is which unless they are next to each other.
In an interview earlier this month, Gary Miller, who has been watching the eagles since 2018, said he first noticed a juvenile eagle invaded their nest on March 4.
Since then, Annie 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.
According to a spokesperson from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, a new female has since arrived and there has been mating activity between the pair. There has also been no evidence of incubation which means there are no eggs in the nest.
Before the arrival of the new female eagle around March 14, there was at least one egg in the nest, but after Annie disappeared, it was no longer viable as it takes two eagles to incubate eggs. One eagle usually hunts for food while the other must constantly be in the nest, the birds will often switch job duties.
The spokesperson added that there has been nesting activity and pair bonding activity, like bringing new sticks to the nest, which is characteristic of breeding eagles.
