Eagle Release Day!

( Photo: Aprill tubes the adult male Bald Eagle #286-09 electrolyte fluid to make sure he is well hydrated after an exhausting hour-long- plus chase to catch him in the flight building. We had some too! :)) )




( Photo: #218-09 is a female Bald Eagle from Stevens Point. She suffered a broken wing after fledging her nest. She is a huge female and very dark in color. Aprill was an intern at REGI this summer when this beautiful eagle came into care here. )


( Photo: Jen holds #402-09, the female 4th year Bald Eagle while I examine the wing that had been fractured in October.

Today is the day! The Bald Eagles we will be releasing are...

1. #218-09 A Juvenile Female that was found on the ground with a broken wing soon after she fledged the nest at the Country Club in Stevens Point. She is a stunning dark bird that was cared for at REGI by our foster parent Bald Eagle during the early stages of her recovery. She came into rehab at REGI on 7-1-09. Steve Fisher, REGI's Education Director, helped me capture the eagle on the golf course.

2. #402-09 Another female Bald Eagle, but this time a 4th year bird with lots of white through her plumage. Another big lady, she is from an area near Mead Wildlife Center and was rescued when citizens found her in their corn field unable to fly. She also had a broken wing (L.) She came into REGI's care on October 10-26-09. She was captured by Tom Meyer of the WI DNR.

3. #286-09 An adult male Bald Eagle came into care when Ron Drayler happened across him in a woods near his home. The eagle was unable to fly and was lethargic. He has been with REGI since 8-2-09. He had a wing fracture and also suffered from lead poisoning. He is now perfect, and it took us over an hour to catch up in the large flight building. He is from Marathon County. I caught this bird up in a swamp with the help of Mr Drayler and a group of my summer interns.

Yesterday was a busy one for us with the physicals on these birds and evaluating others that were not quite ready to leave rehab yet. It makes for a stressful day, since even the most minute details have to be considered to assure the birds are release-ready.

More photos on the process tomorrow or early in the week, but NOW.. I am off to catch up these three beautiful Bald Eagles for their transport to the Lower Wisconsin River and their release. Hope to see some of you there. If you are not able to make it, I will have photos.

Have a wonderful day everyone and think of us at noon today as the birds begin to take their freedom once more.

Marge Gibson © 2010