BE13-10

BE13-10. Let me explain what that means. BE is an abbreviation for bald eagle, 13 is the year it came into Bird TLC's clinic and 10 means the 10th bald eagle so far that year.

BE13-10 was sent to Bird TLC from USF&W Biologist Robin Corcoran in Kodiak NWR on Feb. 17, 2013. He was found in the water. She called me and asked that I'd pick him up at the airport. I did and brought him back to the clinic and bedded him down for the night. He would be examined the next day.

There were no real significant findings during his exam. He was thin, a little beat up, but nothing to keep him from being released soon or so we thought. A few weeks later he was sent to the flight center to build up his strength to be released.

At the flight center, things were a little different. After a few days we would have expected some type of flight. He was a good hopper and a skipper, but no flight. He was even having troubles getting on the perches. Nothing like what we expected. He was kenneled up and returned to the clinic to have another exam.

At his exam, he was found to not have a full range of motion in his left shoulder and also possible spinal damage. There was nothing we could do for him. He was returned to the flight center with the hopes this would work itself out in time.

Time goes by and there's not any improvement and BE13-10 is labeled as not flighted and not releasable. I know, because I wrote it on his chart. He is still being observed but no changes really. He's put on the list for placement, but placement of an adult bald eagle that's not flighted isn't good. Fortunately for him, business had been slow, so there is plenty of room out at the flight center.

About a year ago, I stopped volunteering at the flight center. BE13-10 was still not flight and his future was very uncertain. A few months ago I'm hearing that BE13-10 is flighted, not good but flighted. A few weeks ago I started hearing that his flight is improving and there's a hope of him becoming releasable.

Today I returned to the flight center for the first time in a long while to help with a cleanup and do some repairs. I checked in on BE13-10. He is flighted and looking really good. He's acting like a mature bald eagle and was even preening while I was in his cell.

What a great feeling after 3 1/2 years to see this guy doing so well. If all continues with him improving, he's going to be released back to the wild in Haines, Alaska for the American Bald Eagle Festival on Nov 19.

Bald Eagle BE14-63 released

BE 14-63 was released Friday afternoon at the Bird TLC property in South Anchorage. She had come to TLC last November from Dutch Harbor for not thriving, though we don't know why. After months of care and rehabilitation, she is taking good care of herself and flying great. The release went so well, she played in the thermals above the release area before flying off.

Adak burn eagle to be released

Bird Treatment and Learning Center

NEWS RELEASE

The Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage is excited to announce the release of one of the burn eagles from Adak. The bird now known as Sparkie, came to Bird TLC in February 2014 after hunting rodents at the Adak landfill and landing on hot embers along with five other eagles. The fire did heavy damage to its tail and wing feathers. After a lengthy recovery, the feathers regrew after the bird molted its damaged feathers. He’s been recovering at Bird TLC’s Flight Center on JBER Richardson for the past 4 months regaining his strength.

Sparkie has proven that he is ready to be released with his beautiful flight. He will be released at the Soldotna Progress Days in Soldotna this Saturday at 2 pm. The release is open to the public and admission is free.

For more information, call Dave Dorsey @ 907-351-4968 / davedorsey@gci.net or the Bird TLC office at 907-562-4852 / office@birdtlc.net

KTUU Channel 2's Lacie Grosvold story on Sparkie and the release. Click here

 



Eagle release and presentation at McKinley Princess Lodge

Be 14-22 was selected for release on July 4th, so he inherited the name Indy. Rightfully so because it is our Independence Day and his too.

 And from the start, Indy was ready for his Independence Day.

Indy celebrated with a picture perfect release and a short fly by of the crowd. The temperatures we in the low 80°s, but there were several hundred there viewing the release.

Indy had a few feathers missing, a few new ones coming in. This wasn't stopping him from  his independence.

Afterwards Terri and Hal did a presentation for the crowd. There were hundreds in the Great Room from all over the world.

 

Thanks McKinley Princess Lodge for your awesome support of Bird TLC and thanks to the very warm and generous crowd.