Bald eaglets celebrate Independence Day

Two of three are returned to wild and flying MILFORD — There is mostly good news to report about the three eaglets that fell from their nests this spring. The Delaware Valley Raptor Center’s Bill Streeter reports that the Milford eaglet rescued the first week in June did well in his care and showed signs he was ready to return home. Streeter said, “This bird was really ready to go — he was flying really well.” So around Independence Day, Streeter gave this young bird his freedom back and released him near his nest site. His sibling was not yet out of the nest. “He flew upstream,” reported Streeter. He added, “The next day, someone saw his sibling fledge from their nest and…within a day, the two of them were both back together at the tree.” This is good news, since their parents have to teach them both how to hunt. About the same time, one of two eaglets rescued in Milanville was also released about 200 yards from his nest. “He really showed signs he wanted to go back into the wild,” Streeter recalled. In that nest, a third eaglet (unknown at first) was discovered. This was good news. As Streeter explained, it meant the parents would still be around. And as it turned out that sibling in the nest fledged the same day the captured one was released, so Streeter is confident the family will be reunited. The one part of this update that did not have a happy ending involves the second fallen eaglet from the Milanville nest. This female had a badly broken wing and underwent a long surgery at the Raptor Center. “The surgery was successful”, Streeter said, but “every once in a while, they react badly to the anesthesia.” She, unfortunately died coming out of the anesthesia. Streeter said since her wing was so badly broken, she may never have flown again. He added, “It was sad.” But two out of three went back and that’s a good return on the investment. The Raptor Center doesn’t have any bald eagles now. “I don’t want any more”, quipped Streeter. “I’m all bald eagled out.” One might ask, “Could there have been a better way for us to celebrate the nation’s Independence Day than to rehabilitate its national symbol: the American Bald Eagle….and return it to the wild?”