Skywest CRJ2 at Minneapolis on Apr 22nd 2014, pretty good bird strike

A Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 on behalf of Delta Airlines, registration N443SW performing flight OO-4480/DL-4480 from Minneapolis,MN to Rapid City,SD (USA), was in the initial climb out of Minneapolis' runway 12L when after being handed off to departure the crew still on tower frequency called departure reporting climbing through 3000 feet for 7000 feet, they had a "pretty good bird strike" and needed to return to the field. Tower advised they were still on tower frequency, tower would provide vectors and queried whether assistance was needed. The crew however had already switched to departure reporting there they had a "large bird strike" at 4000 feet MSL, they couldn't tell what kind of bird only that it was large, they did not need any assistance, all systems were working, however they needed to return as quickly as possible. The aircraft landed safely on runway 12L about 10 minutes after departure.

The FAA reported the aircraft sustained damage to the nose cone as result of impact by a large bird.