For the first time in its nearly 30-year history, the Wildlife Center of Virginia will be releasing five Bald Eagles at a single event.  All of these eagles hatched earlier this year.

Most friends of the Wildlife Center were already anticpating a triple eagle release on July 27 – the three young eagles from Norfolk Botanical Gardens.  These eagles have been at the Wildlife Center since April 27.  

Since late April, an additional five young Bald Eagles have been admitted to the Center.  Two of these birds are now ready for release.  Because Berkeley Plantation is an ideal location for Bald Eagles, the staff will be adding them into the release day line-up.  These two eagles are:

#11-1235.  This bird was found in a field in Hampton on June 3 and was initially rescued by Lisa Barlow of Wildlife Response Inc.  The emaciated bird was admitted to the Center on June 9.  Because emaciated raptors need to be reintroduced to food slowly and carefully, this bird was first tube-fed an easily digestible diet, and only then gradually introduced to whole foods.  With continued care, the eagle began regaining weight and on June 28 was moved to one of the Center’s outdoor flight pens. 

 #11-1714.  On July 14, Godspeed Animal Care in Williamsburg received a call about a young Bald Eagle at the King and Queen County landfill.  The eagle had its left wing tangled in netting.  The Godspeed staff rescued the bird and cut the netting away from the wing at their clinic.  On July 15, the bird was admitted at the Wildlife Center.

The Center veterinary staff found only minor abrasions on the eagle’s left wing.  The eagle was treated with antibiotics.  On July 16, the eagle was moved to one of the Center’s intermediate-sized outdoor flight pens but had a slight droop in the left wing.  On July 19, the eagle was moved to one of the Center’s large flight pens [joining #11-1235].  When Center veterinarian Dr. Dave McRuer later checked on the eagles, he reported that #11-1714 “was gaining height, flying back and forth multiple times without rests, and showing no signs of a wing droop.”