ALTON, Ill. – After a female bald eagle’s nest was destroyed in a severe thunderstorm in Nebraska, the World Bird Sanctuary’s dedicated team finalized her recovery today.
The eagle took to her freedom Thursday morning at the Audobon Center in west Alton. During a severe storm, she sustained fractures from the fall of her nest. Following her initial care in Nebraska, the World Bird Sanctuary continued her rehabilitation.
“Our bald eagle was released here today because the habitat is so good. Bald eagles are birds that catch fish. Around this habitat this time of year…as a young eagle finding its way in the world, an easy meal like a fairly fresh dead fish is good,” Executive Director Roger Holloway said. “From that point on, she’ll hone the skills to look down with that excellent eyesight.”
Spending time with a foster eagle over the last few weeks helped initiate flight conditioning, which prepared her for this release, but will the eaglet stay in the area and call this Riverlands home?
“Probably not. Bald Eagles, as young birds, are going to roam around a lot; they don’t have a home territory yet or nesting territory. So this bird could wander away hundreds of miles or more in the course of it’s first year,” Holloway said.
