Eagle Release- The Good and the Evil

[Win Heger]

On Saturday my wife and I went to Cedar Breaks N.M to do some hiking and to watch the release of a Golden Eagle that had been rehabilitated. A little story:

The Evil: There had been a pair of Goldens nesting in an old mine for years. This year they had an unsual birth of three off spring. Someone decided to climb the ridge above the nest and shoot the birds. Two young and one adult were murdered.

The Good: Martin Tyner is a local who has spent his life rehabilitaing wildlife.
He was able to rescue the survivor and bring him back to health. They chose this day to release the bird from the overlook at 10,350 ft in Cedar Breaks.
A Vietnam veteran was chosen to release the bird with other veterans asked to step forward and be honored as the bird signifies our freedom. I must admit I had a tear in my eye.

I can't understand how people can be so cruel to animals. From Vick to the senseless killing of wildlife.

Here is a picture I took as the bird soared away. We watched for several minutes until he disappeared.

Win

 

[rebeltf]

My Lord , how could anyone shoot such a beautiful and majestic bird.




Your pic was nice , thanks for sharing.

 

[T.K.C.]

I can not wrap my brain around how people can be so cruel and evil to innocent animals!!!
That Eagle is sooooo beautiful!!! Thank you for that wonderful picture.

 

[canineforge]

There had been a pair of Goldens nesting in an old mine for years. This year they had an unsual birth of three off spring.

Thanks for sharing, Win. The good part of the story is really good! Great photo and experience for you.
No need for me to comment on what they should do if they catch the SOB's. It wouldn't be pretty.
Here in the Ozarks, we have had the great fortune of observing a nest that has been in use for over a decade. It is just down river from my house. And, this is the first year three eaglets survived here!! Very unusal, as you mentioned. It is not unusual for the nest to have three eggs, but to have three eaglets survive to fly off on their own is very rare. We got to watch them this year, and it was a blast. Don and Tina Hanson have observed them the last few years, too.
I am including a couple of pictures I took. My digital camera was on a tripod and held up against the spotting scope, which was on another tripod. Not the best, but gives you an idea of our vantage point.
The interesting thing we noticed, compared to previous years with only one or two eaglets, was when we were lucky enough to be there when one of the adults showed up with some food, they would fly in, drop the food, and get the hell out of Dodge! There was not enough room for all the excitement with three large eaglets fending for themselves over fresh rabbit or squirrel.

One of the adults next to the nest (our spotting area is probably 1/2-mile from the nest):

And, here are two of the eaglets (sorry, no white heads!) next to the nest:

It was a great time this year keeping tabs on them. I was running over to the bluff every chance I had. I can't imagine somebody shooting into them!!


- Joe

 

[Don Hanson III]

Win, like canine said, the good part of your story was very good but I don't understand the evil people. Nice photo.

Joe, we enjoyed our viewing of the eagles over there.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Years ago I owned a membership share in a camping resort on the Chickahominy river. I liked to primitive camp. Everyone else who was a member just hauled in their trailers and set up on the pads. I used the wooded point of the land that projected out into the river. I discovered that a family of eagles roosted in a huge pine, just off the point. The forest floor was covered in feathers from preening. I would sit on the bank and watch the eagles fish. They got used to me and would swoop right in while I was there. My kids and I would gather the feathers up and fill drywall buckets with them ( to keep others from seeing the evidence of the eagles). I would give them to the local Indian tribe members I knew (Mattaponai). I camped there for over ten years and no one knew there were eagles nesting there. During that time I must have gathered over a thousand feathers.
I saw my first eagle as a very young boy. I never have lost my awe of them.They are the most majestic birds on earth. Anyone who kills one is deserving of no pity in court.

Win, your photo is amazing.

Stacy

 

[Win Heger]

Thanks for the nice replies. Glad to see other people with the same thoughts as me.

Joe, pretty good pictures considering how you had to take them. Nice story, Stacy, I'm sure your children will take that with them forever.

Win