Conservation officers started an air search on Friday for the nest and possible young eaglet of a bald eagle that died after being shot in southern Indiana.

As per officials the injured eagle was found on March 19 in northwestern Dubois County. The eagle died when it was transferred to the Indiana Raptor Center in Nashville.

X-ray showed bullet fragments in eagle, which is believed to have been a male. Further examination revealed that the eagle had a bare spot on its abdomen called a brood patch that occurs when nesting eagles sit on eggs to warm them while their mate is hunting for food.

Conservation Officer Joe Haywood said his fellow conservation officers used an airplane Friday to survey nearby eagle nesting sites in order to find a single-parent nest that could be that of the dead eagle's mate.

He said Friday's air survey eliminated a couple of nests from the search, but the aircraft would be used in the coming days to identify as many nests as possible.

Once nests are identified and surveyed, Haywood said conservation officers would study them from the ground in hopes of finding the single-parent nest.

If they become successful in finding the single-parent nest, they will monitor it to make sure its mate can provide food for their young. Haywood said the best-case scenario would be if the surviving eagle is managing to both hunt and care for its chicks.

He said much of the condition will depend on the age of the young birds. There are possibilities that the eagle could abandon one or more chicks in an attempt to save one. Conservation officers are seeking the public's help in finding whoever shot the eagle, he added.