Rehabilitation Updates

Medical Updates
Statement from Ed Clark, President and Co-Founder of the Wildlife Center of Virginia
Cause of Growth on Norfolk Botanical Garden Eaglet Confirmed as Avian Pox [5/28/08]
WVEC Chat Room Transcript - WCV President Ed Clark answers questions [5/30/08]
Background paper on Avian Pox

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Rehab Update: November 13 2008

The Norfolk eagle (patient number 08-0887) was becoming increasingly excited (bordering on aggressive) about his daily meal, so the rehabilitation staff  felt some training was in order.  As the bird has a decreased fear of humans, Wildlife Center rehabilitators have been working to train the bird to fly back to his A-frame perch [located in the rear of his pen] and wait patiently until given the "OK" command, at which point his meal is tossed into the enclosure.  Because he is so highly food motivated, the eagle learned this behavior in only two sessions.

Daily feeding schedules go as follows.   Rehabbers arrive with the food at the enclosure door.  The bird begins to get excited and comes to the door to meet the staff, looking for food.  The command "Get back" is given with a hand motion gesturing the same meaning.   Staff members then wait until the eagle retreats to the A-frame.  If the bird does not do as he is asked we then say "whoops" and wait patiently until he moves back - or until enough time has passed and we can try the command again.

Once the eagle is on his A-frame perch the "wait" command is given.  The bird is then expected to stay on the perch until staff members can safely open the door and throw in the food.

Finally, the "Okay" command is given with the delivery of food to the cage. This is the cue that he can obtain his reward (dinner). This is the same protocol that Center staff have taken with other highly food motivated birds of prey.  Eagle 887 seems to be very eager to oblige if it means he will get his dinner.

It should be noted that techniques such as these have been used for centuries by falconers. It in no way erases natural behaviors or that "killer instinct" in captive wild birds of prey.

Rehab Update: September 5 2008

The Norfolk Bald Eagle [#08-887] seems to have come through last week's beak-trim procedure well. He ate his dinner that evening - no problems - and continues to do well on his once-a-day feeding schedule. We're feeding him mice and rats - some chopped, and some whole. He does well with both.

As part of last week's Dremel procedure, a blood sample was pulled for a CBC [complete blood count] test. The results were normal.

Unless we see a loss of appetite or some other health issue, we're only going to weigh 08-887 every 14 days or so. His weight has stabilized, and it's gotten more difficult to gather him up for weighing.

Rehab Update: August 19 2008

During the past week or so, there's been some concern about the Norfolk Bald Eagle's eating. There have been times when the eagle has been a "fussy" eater. The rehabilitation staff continues to work to find an appropriate menu and feeding schedule for the bird.

On Sunday, for example, the eagle's meal included a day-old chick. - offered as a nutritional supplement and to provide some variety.

On Monday the rehabilitation staff decided to try moving the eagle to a once-a-day feeding of about eight mice. [Eagles at the Wildlife Center are generally fed once a day]. Eight mice [chopped in half] were left for the eagle in the afternoon. The eagle moved his food to his "eating" block [one of two cinderblocks supporting a low perch]; by Tuesday all of the mice were gone.

The eagle's weight has stabilized at just under 3.3 kgs [about 7 pounds] - which seems appropriate for a male eagle nearly four months old.

Rehab Update: August 15 2008

The Wildlife Center's wildlife rehabilitators - Suzy Doell, Tracy Marshal, and Dani Stumbo - and Rehabilitation Supervisor Amanda Nicholson share responsibility for the care and feeding of the Norfolk Bald Eagle ... as well as the scores of other animals that are patients at the Wildlife Center.

The Norfolk Bald Eagle is currently in an outdoor enclosure [approximate dimensions 8 x 14 feet] with a number of perches at different heights.  Other Bald Eagle patients are housed nearby.

The eagle is currently being fed twice a day - morning and afternoon.  The rehab staff usually drop off six to eight mice on a large flat rock; larger mice are cut in half.  Occasionally a few fish pieces are mixed in.   This is about 50 percent more food than is currently being provided to other eagles being treated at the Center.

On August 13 the staff left a whole rat for the eagle - a rat that had not been cut up.  The eagle first ate the head.  Later in the day the staff returned to find only the rat skin and tail - good news as it indicates that the bird was able to rip and tear up food.

The rehabilitation staff is experimenting with a motion-activated "game cam".  The following images provide some insights into the afternoon of August 14 with Patient #08-887.

In early afternoon, the eagle spent some time stretching his wings and preening.

[+]  The eaglet stretching and preening		[+]  The eaglet stretching and preening
[+]  The eaglet stretching and preening

[+]  Dani Stumbo placing a whole rat atop the a-frame

Just after 2:30 p.m. Dani Stumbo placed a whole rat atop the small "a-frame".

[+]  The eaglet with his snack

The eagle later took the rat back to a cinder block toward the back of the enclosure.

[+]  The Norfolk Botanical Garden eaglet

The rehabbers report that he seems to have a special affinity for eating food off of the block; food that has been left on other spots throughout his enclosure sometimes ends up back on that block.

[+]  The Norfolk Botanical Garden eaglet

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