Cartwheeling bald eagles crash to ground in Georgia

A pair of bald eagles made a less-than-majestic crash landing in Savannah, Ga., and were discovered dazed and sprawled out on the ground.A staff member for WSAV-TV heard a crash in the trees outside their apartment Thursday and thought a limb had fallen before spotting the white-capped birds dazed and crumpled on the dirt, the outlet reported.The eagles may have been locked in midair combat — or even courtship — in a violent maneuver known as “cartwheeling” that often sends both aminals careening toward Earth.Usually, eagles disengage before hitting the ground, but it seems neither of these combatants was ready to let go.The person who discovered the eagles and shot the video called authorities on the non-emergency number.Officials then alerted the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, WSAV reported.The condition of the eagles remains unclear.Bald eagles are slowly returning to the state of Georgia after exposure to toxic pesticides almost wiped them out in the ’70s, according to Natural Resources.Conservationists recently discovered two active bald eagle nests in the Savannah area after more than 10 years without a nest discovery.“While those figures may seem small, the implications of what they mean is much larger,” a report by the US Department of Energy reads.“Eagles don’t reach breeding maturity until 4 to 6 years of age.

That likely means these birds of prey have been present in the area for some time.”Bald eagles are among the largest birds in North America with a wingspan of up to 8 feet, and their nests — usually 5 to 6 feet wide — are the largest of any bird in the world.Their “bald” name comes from the Middle English word balled, which means “shining white.”...