PATIENT: Bald Eagle, #11-2393

LOCATION OF RESCUE: Accomack County, Virginia

CONDITION: Thin, dehydrated

ADMISSION DATE: September 20, 2011

PROGNOSIS: Non-releasable

On September 19, the Wildlife Center admitted Bald Eagle #11-2393. The adult Bald Eagle was rescued on September 17 by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator in Accomack County after a concerned citizen spotted the downed bird near a coastal marsh.  Volunteer transporters brought the eagle to the Center on September 19.

Bald Eagle #11-2393 arrived with superficial injuries on its right and left carpi–which are basically the eagle’s wrists–and these wounds combined with its tattered tail feathers and relatively dirty feet led the Center’s veterinary staff to conclude that the eagle had been down for a few days or more. Dr. Miranda Sadar and Dr. Adam Naylor performed a physical examination of the bird and determined that it was thin and suffering from dehydration; they were not able to identify immediate signs of any further physical trauma.

#11-2393 was given subcutaneous injections of fluids to reduce its dehydration and the veterinary staff scheduled radiographs for September 20.  Because the physical examination did not reveal any obvious injuries, the veterinarians hoped that the radiographs and blood work would provide more information that could help explain the circumstances under which the eagle was found.

On September 20, Dr. Miranda and Dr. Dave McRuer studied the initial radiographs of the Bald Eagle and did not identify any obvious abnormalities; the staff veterinarians are now hoping that the results from the blood work that was collected Tuesday morning will offer more insight. Until then, #11-2393 remains in an indoor enclosure at the Center and will be monitored closely by staff members.

#11-2393 arrived at the center with state and federal identification bands. Center staff have submitted all of the appropriate information to www.reportband.gov and are now waiting for details on the Bald Eagle. As soon as more information becomes available on this particular adult eagle, it will listed here as an update.

September 22 update

Bald Eagle #11-2393 is showing some signs of improvement. Center rehabilitation staff members have reported that the eagle is now eating on its own and perching within its pen. The superficial wounds on its carpi are healing and scabbing. The blood work that staff veterinarians analyzed on September 21 did not show any signs of internal inflammation; however, a fecal analysis did reveal that the eagle has parasites. As a result, #11-2393 was prescribed an antiparasitic medication which will now be administered daily.

Staff veterinarians will take additional radiographs and blood work at the beginning of next week. In the meantime, the Bald Eagle remains under observation.

September 29 update

The superficial injuries on Bald Eagle #11-2393’s carpi have scabbed and appear to be healing cleanly; however, the Center’s veterinary staff have examined the radiographs taken of the Bald Eagle more closely and think that there may be more significant damage to the eagle’s carpi than they initially suspected. To see if this has any effect on the eagle’s ability to fly, Dr. Adam Naylor recommended that #11-2393 be moved to an outdoor enclosure in order to allow the Center’s veterinary and rehabilitation staff the opportunity to observe it move about freely. The eagle was relocated yesterday afternoon to one of the Center’s smaller flight pens and will remain there under close observation until further notice.

The Wildlife Center has also received information back on Bald Eagle #11-2393’s band. This particular eagle was treated in late December of 2010 by the Eastern Shore Animal Hospitalfor soft tissue injuries on its carpi and scapula. After it received initial treatment, it was cared for by a permitted rehabilitator until it was banded and released in early January of this year by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. This is the first time it has been in recorded contact with humans since its release.

October 12 update

Since moving to a small outdoor enclosure, Bald Eagle #11-2393 has been spotted with a pronounced right wing droop.  The staff veterinarians prescribed a 10-day course of anti-inflammatories to see if that would have any affect on how the eagle holds its wing.  After no changes were seen, the medication was discontinued.

On October 10, an additional set of radiographs were taken — but the veterinary team was unable to pinpoint a reason why the eagle continues to droop its wing.  Dr. Miranda decided to see what the eagle would do in a larger space, so the bird was moved into a 45-foot-long flight enclosure.  While the perches were lowered at first, the Bald Eagle has demonstrated that it can fly despite the wing droop, so the rehabilitation staff raised the perches to a regular height.  The staff will continue to monitor the eagle regularly for changes.

October 25 update

Bald Eagle #11-2393 has been in “A1″, one of the Center’s longest flight pens, since October 17.  The rehabilitation staff reports that the eagle has been flying well — though the bird is still sporting a significant wing droop.   The eagle has not yet started a formal exercise regimen yet — the staff have been hoping to see some improvements with the wing droop first, before pushing the eagle to fly.  The bird will continue to be monitored.

November 21 update

This morning, the Wildlife Center’s veterinary staff, after consulting with the rehabilitation staff, decided to prescribe daily exercise for Bald Eagle #11-2393. The eagle is still showing a wing droop, and will be monitored closely as it begins to exercise. The Center’s staff is hopeful that the Bald Eagle will continue to improve.  

December 14 update

Over the past three weeks, Bald Eagle #11-2393 has been exercised almost daily by the rehabilitation staff.  While the eagle still continues to sport a significant wing droop, this doesn’t seem to be greatly affecting its ability to fly.  The eagle is currently flying four to six laps during each exercise session, and maintains height between the two perches.  The rehab staff would like to see the eagle gain more stamina, but are encouraged by the good flights.  Bald Eagle #11-2393 is currently sharing an A-pen with Bald Eagle #11-0230 — also from the Eastern shore.

December 30 update

On December 26, Bald Eagle #11-2393 was moved to “A3″ — the Center’s newest flight pen.  Center staff wanted to see how the Bald Eagle would do in this higher space; they also wanted to separate the two Accomack Bald Eagles since #11-2393 is flying better and longer than #11-0230.

The rehab staff report that #11-2393 has been flying pretty well — still with some effort, but the bird is maintaining a good altitude in this very tall flight enclosure.  The eagle still has a pronounced wing droop at the end of each exercise session.  On average, the eagle has been flying the length of the 88-foot pen about six times.

January 11 update

Dr. Miranda brought Bald Eagle #11-2393 into the Center’s hospital on January 8 for a set of radiographs — just to ensure that no subtle injuries had manifested in the months since the eagle’s arrival.  The eagle was anesthetized; Dr. Miranda did not find anything significant on the radiographs. 

While the cause of this eagle’s pronounced wing droop is still unknown — nearly five months after admission — the droop does not seem to be greatly affecting the eagle’s ability to fly. Exercise continues for this Bald Eagle — it is now up to about 10 flights per exercise session [the rehab staff count a pass from one end of the pen to another as one lap].  The eagle still seems a bit tired at the end of each session, so the rehabilitation staff continue to push the bird to encourage improvement in stamina.

February 6 update

Wildlife Center staff continue to exercise Bald Eagle #11-2393 regularly.  In late January, the eagle began flying a little less during each session — and was fairly winded at the end of each session.  The rehabilitation staff and veterinarians have been monitoring this bird closely; the wing droop is unchanged from when the bird first came in.   While the eagle can fly, it can’t fly well.  At this point the veterinary team is uncomfortable releasing the bird with such a pronounced wing droop and with mediocre flight and stamina.

February 10 update

After a careful medical record review and close observation of the bird, the team determined that Bald Eagle #11-2393 is non-releasable.  While the eagle has made some improvements during its five-month hospitalization, the veterinarians at the Center just aren’t comfortable releasing the bird with such a significant wing droop — particularly because the cause of the droop was never determined.  The eagle can fly the length of a 100-foot flight pen, but the quality of the flight is concerning — and the staff do not want to release the eagle unless they are sure it will do well and succeed in the wild.  The staff will consider placement options for the Bald Eagle.

April 4 update

Bald Eagle #11-2393 has continued to hang out in various flight pens while placement options are being considered – all the while hanging out with fellow Accomack County eagle #11-0230.  Both birds are currently being housed in A2. 

April 11 update

Permitting paperwork was started with Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, so that they may obtain Bald Eagle #11-2393 as an educational bird.  Permits often take several months to obtain; Bald Eagle #11-2393 will remain at the Wildlife Center until everything is official. 

In the meantime, the eagle is being housed in A2.  The veterinary team continues to check the eagle’s feet and feathers every two weeks.  The eagle has a set of protective “bumpers” on its carpi [wrists] to prevent any bumps and bruises when it is caught up for these checks.

For the next two days, stop by the Wildlife Center’s Critter Cam to see this Bald Eagle on cam!

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