Bald Eagle crashes into Pennsylvania home; wildlife experts weigh in on such collisions

Whitehall, PA (CNN) — A bald eagle is on the mend after crashing into a Pennsylvania home earlier this week.

These bird-versus-window collisions aren't as rare as you may think, and animal experts say there are ways to try to prevent them from happening.

It was certainly not a typical Tuesday for the people who live in this home on Madison Lane in Whitehall.

Around 5:30 in the evening, a bald eagle slammed into their front window, shattering the plate glass.

"More than likely, he was seeing a reflection of the sky or simply light and felt that he could continue through it,” says Kathy Uhler, director of the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center.

Whitehall police responded to the collision and found the eagle on the ground.

Officers called a wildlife expert but by the time she arrived, it had flown off.

"It's not every night that you have a bald eagle crashing through a window down there,” Uhler notes.

Uhler says while it's not super common to see an eagle crash into a window, bird collisions are common, sometimes too common.

"We're losing like a billion birds a year to window collisions, it's not a small problem."

Uhler says most windows are clear so birds try to fly right through them, or the windows give off a reflection that can also attract the animals.

The good news is these collisions are avoidable.

Uhler says installing windows with ultraviolet barriers can save the birds' lives.

"We can't see ultraviolet, but birds can and it's becoming a really good way to prevent these collisions."

As for the “Whitehall window eagle,” experts say it's a good sign that he flew away, but that doesn't mean he escaped unscathed.

"The bird is obviously not feeling great so we'd like to prevent those collisions when we can."

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