America's National Bird Returns to the Skies After Rescue

America’s National Bird Returns to the Skies After Rescue

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: August 20, 2021 1:30 am

A wildlife carer with the rescued eaglet which was raised by carers after its parents abandoned the nest

Photo Credit: Ron Magill

A bald eagle rescued by wildlife carers from Wildlife Rescue of Dade County (WRDC) will return to the wild this coming weekend after being successfully rehabilitated.

On March 13th 2021 Lloyd Brown founder of Wildlife Rescue of Dade County (WRDC) was notified by Audubon Eagle Watch volunteer, Jeanne Kaufman that a bald eagle nest had been compromised by a storm and fallen 85 feet to the ground.

Accompanied by Ron Magill from Zoo Miami the group travelled to the location of the nest and inspected the chick.

The rescued bald eagle practices its flight before its return to the wild

Photo Credit: Ron Magill

Unfortunately two chicks were in the nest and one had passed away. The other appeared injured and was carefully inspected by Lloyd while the parents circled above. Unfortunately the chick appeared dehydrated and had an injury to its wing.

Following a discussion with officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service it was determined that the chick would need medical treatment and it was moved to the WRDC facility to undergo this treatment with a view to rehabilitation.

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Avian specialist vet Dr. Don Harris and VCA South Dade Animal Hospital, donated their services to allow for an examination and X-rays to be performed on the eaglet. These tests revealed a broken right wing which underwent surgery and has now resumed full use.

Lloyd and the team at WRDC then turned their eyes to rehabilitation and release. Many hours have been spent by the team providing flying exercises to develop strength and teaching the eaglet to fish.

They have also introduced other foods and found that a favorite pf this eagle is iguana, an invasive species in Florida. The team are hopeful that she will work in the wild to decrease the population of this species and if she raises young will pass this food preference on to the chicks.

Now after 5 months of work the chick will be released this weekend.

Vets provide care to the bald eagle chick following its rescue

Photo Credit: Ron Magill

The 5 months of care for this chick were paid for by the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment at the Zoo Miami Foundation. Ron Magill is also a board member for the WRDC.

In addition to raising the chick the endowment has provided funding for a secure platform in the spot where this chicks nest was located. It is hoped the parents will return to nest here next year.

If they do it will be captured on high resolution web cameras located around the nest site. In the event the pair raise chicks the process will be livestreamed so that a global audience can watch them grow up.