Bald Eaglet #17-0836 [MN18]

Admission Date: 
May 8, 2017
Release Date: 
August 19, 2017
Location of Rescue: 
Essex County, Virginia
Cause of Admission / Condition: 
Fell from nest
Patient Status: 
Patient Archive
Released

On May 7, a private citizen in Essex County found a juvenile Bald Eagle walking around in his yard. The young bird was taken to the Wildbunch Wildlife Refuge for an examination. The young bird was thin and dehydrated, and the following day, the eagle was transported to the Wildlife Center.

Dr. Peach examined the eagle upon admission and did not find any injuries, though concurred that the eaglet was thin and dehydrated. Blood work revealed that the eaglet was mildly anemic. Dr. Peach gave the bird fluids and set the bird up in the Center's holding area. Wildlife rehabilitator Brie has been offering a diet of chopped rat pieces to the young bird three times a day; the bird has been eating fairly well.

On May 10, the eaglet was moved to the tower area of flight pen A3. This space overlooks the larger flight area of the enclosure. Non-releasable Bald Eagles 15-0355 and 16-0038 were moved to the main flight area, so that the young eagle can see and hear them as it continues to grow.

Your special donation will help the Center to provide care to this young Bald Eagle … and all of the patients admitted in 2017. Please help!

Updates

August 19, 2017

On August 19, Bald Eagles #17-0836 and #17-1181 were successfully released at Mason Neck State Park. Wildlife Center President Ed Clark first released Bald Eagle #17-1181 -- now known as "MN72" for tracking purposes -- who flew off beautifully over the treeline. Then, Bald Eagle #17-0836 [MN18] was released, who also flew off and out of sight.

Photo of MN72 by Claudia Moore

Photo of Ed and MN18 by Alex Huneycutt

Photo of Ed and MN18 by Cheryl Kirk:

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned to the Eagle Tracking to see where these birds go post-release!

August 16, 2017

On August 15, eagle biologist Jeff Cooper came to the Wildlife Center to fit GPS transmitters on eaglets #17-0836 and #17-1181, which will track their movements after release. The birds were also banded and had blood drawn for pre-release blood work; results came back within normal limits. Wildlife rehabilitator Brie checked on the eaglets later that day; both were flying well with their new transmitters, so the team began planning a release!

Wildlife Center President Ed Clark will release the two Bald Eagles on Saturday, August 19 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mason Neck State Park Visitors Center in Fairfax County. The release is free and open to the public; those attending are asked to RSVP to lkegley@wildlifecenter.org.

The GPS transmitters will enable the birds to be part of an ongoing research study that will monitor eagle movements. This study looks at the data received from these tracked Bald Eagles to determine the range and behavior of Bald Eagles in Virginia’s coastal plain. Migratory behavior is studied as biologists are able to see how far Bald Eagles move in the winter season, and the data will play an important role in modeling how these birds use airspace. By looking at heights at which the eagles fly, average distances, and other specifics, biologists are able to relate this eagle behavior to real-life issues, such as airstrike data.

For the Wildlife Center, this is a fantastic opportunity for additional post-release studies of our rehabilitated raptors. There have been very few studies done in this area. The Wildlife Center will be able to see and share GPS data; the bird will be added to the Eagle Tracking page on our website. After release, eagle #17-0836 will be known as MN18 and eagle #17-1181 will be known as MN72, for tracking purposes.

August 11, 2017

Bald Eagles #17-1181 and #17-0836 continue to fly well during their daily exercise session. Wildlife rehabilitator Brie got in touch with the state eagle biologist; he does have GPS transmitters for these birds and will be at the Center to fit the birds during the week of August 14. After the “backpack” fitting, the birds will be returned to their flight enclosure for additional exercise and observation.

August 3, 2017

Bald Eaglets #17-1181 [cupcake bumpers] and #17-0836 [green bumpers] have been flying very well during exercise sessions and were bumped up to a goal of 15+ passes during each exercise session this week. This is the “optimum” level for this species in this particular flight space; as long as the eaglets continue to do well during the next couple of weeks, release could be considered. The staff are contacting the state eagle biologist to inquire about GPS transmitters.

Bald Eaglet #17-0879 has been the weakest flyer of the three, and, within the past week, has been displaying a slight wing droop. The team decided to move the bird to a different flight space to continue exercise; this will allow the two other eaglets to fully prepare for release.

July 28, 2017

The three young Bald Eagles in A3 have been exercising well during the past week; wildlife rehabilitator Brie notes that eagle #17-0836 [Green bumpers] is still the strongest flier of the bunch, and typically flies eight to 11 passes during each exercise session. The other two are doing well, but need to improve their stamina. All of the eagles will have their daily goal increased to 10-15 passes during each session.

July 19, 2017

The three Bald Eaglets in A3 are exercising well; wildlife rehabilitator Brie reports that eaglet #17-0836 [green bumpers] is the strongest flier out of the three. Each eaglet has been consistently flying about five to six passes; this week, the eaglets will be pushed to five to 10 passes. Once they are consistently flying at 15+ passes during each session, release will be considered. Dr. Ernesto is getting in touch with the state eagle biologist to see if he has extra GPS transmitters for any of the eaglets.

Bald Eaglet #17-0879 was switched to "purple owl" bumpers this week.

July 13, 2017

On Wednesday, the rehabilitation team moved Bald Eaglet #17-1354 to flight pen A2, to share an enclosure with Bald Eagle #17-0968. The remaining three eaglets in A3 began exercise on Wednesday; the team will carefully monitor the birds to make sure all three young eagles can successfully exercise in the same space. Current wing bumper identifications are:

Bald Eagle #17-0836 – green bumpers
Bald Eagle #17-0879 – “hands” bumpers [white background with colorful handprints]
Bald Eagle #17-1181 – cupcakes bumpers

July 6, 2017

The eagle family in A3 is doing well; the young eaglets are all exploring their space and are able to fly the length of the flight enclosure. Dr. Ernesto and wildlife rehabilitator Brie will soon make a plan to begin splitting up the eaglets so that they can be safely exercised in flight pens; six eagles in a pen is too many to safely exercise. To start with, the two non-releasable mature eagles were moved to flight pen A1.

Each eaglet will need to be flight-conditioned; the rehab team will assess the bird’s altitude during flight, maneuverability, and stamina. It will likely be several weeks before the young birds are conditioned enough for release. Because eagles rely heavily on scavenging (in addition to catching fresh fish) live prey testing is not offered for Bald Eagles at the Wildlife Center.

June 22, 2017

The eagle family in flight pen A3 is doing well; earlier this week, the wildlife rehabilitation staff opened the tower doors to allow #17-1354 to fledge. The young bird left the tower sometime later that night or early the next morning.

At this point, the eagles are exploring the flight enclosure and are growing up; they aren't yet being exercised, but will likely be split up when it's time to begin. Critter Cam viewers can identify the eaglets by the color of their protective wing bumpers; eaglet #17-0836 has green bumpers, eaglet #17-0879 has "gnome" bumpers (gray background color), eaglet #17-1181 has "cupcake" bumpers (purple in color), and eaglet #17-1354 has stripe bumpers.

June 7, 2017

On June 6, wildlife rehabilitator Brie opened up the doors of the tower in flight pen A3 to allow Bald Eagle #17-1181 to fledge. The young eagle hung out in the nest for most of the day, then moved to the railing for a few hours before officially fledging that evening.

Critter Cam viewers can identify the eaglets by the color of their protective wing bumpers; eaglet #17-0836 has green bumpers, eaglet #17-0879 has "gnome" bumpers (gray background color), and eaglet #17-1181 has "cupcake" bumpers (purple in color).

The eaglets are eating well and gaining weight. The veterinary team has not yet measured the eagles to determine gender. Based on weight and cam observations, it's likely that the newest eaglet is a male, and the green-bumpered eaglet is a female.

17-1181 [cupcakes]: 3.57 kg
17-0879 [gnomes]: 3.70 kg
17-0836 [green]: 4.60 kg

May 29, 2017

The two Bald Eaglets in the A3 raptor tower have been doing well the past couple of weeks; both birds are eating well and are becoming increasingly active. On May 29, wildlife rehabilitators Brie and Linda decided to open up the tower doors so that the birds could fledge naturally at their own pace. Watch their progress on Critter Cam 3! Bald Eaglet #17-0836 is currently wearing green "bumpers" on his wings; eaglet #17-0879 is wearing bumpers decorated with gnome duct-tape.

The eaglets will continue to receive food twice a day; at this point, they are still eating a diet of chopped rats, but will soon transition to whole food. The rehabilitation team will place food in the loft, as well as in the main part of the enclosure. Generally, young raptors and those raptors used as surrogates share food; the staff just ensures that they are providing plenty for all!

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