|
BALD EAGLE
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
STATUS: Becoming more visible in New England.
HABITAT: Near large bodies of fresh or salt water
FOOD: Fish, mammals, carrion
The Bald Eagle has been our national symbol since 1782. Our forefathers
chose wisely and well, for this is a truly magnificent species. Bald
Eagles stand 3 feet tall with a wingspan that may reach 7 feet. Weight
ranges from 8 to 16 pounds. Adult eagles are dark brown, with a gleaming
white head and tail. Immatures are brown mottled with white, and don't
reach adult resplendence until they are 4 or 5. The species ranges
from California and Florida up to Alaska, although its numbers declined
drastically in the 1950s and '60s due mostly to DDT poisoning. Now,
however, use of the pesticide is banned, and the Bald Eagle is on
the comeback trail. Habitat protection is a key issue in the long-term
survival of the Bald Eagle.
|
|
|
|
|
River is a beautiful Bald Eagle. She was named,"Miniwakan" during a Native American Ceremony by Jack Olsqewski. We affectionately call her River because the Connecticut River is where she has spent her life. River was banded as a nestling in North Hampton, Massachusetts in 1996. During the fall of 2002, she was rescued in the Connecticut River by Portland, Connecticut. She had fractured several ribs and her left femur. She had a large wound on her right leg and was unable to stand. Karen Hannon provided life-saving, intensive care. Tufts University and the Kensington Bird and Animal Hospital provided medical care. River was found to be nonreleasable due to the extensive medical problems, but she early on showed signs of having a remarkable personality. Her entertainment while in Karen's rehab room was an aquarium full of mice, which River would study for hours. When U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave Wind Over Wings permission to have River in our educational service, we felt honored and thrilled. She is vocal, interactive and humorous. A joy! |
RIVER
"MINIWAKAN"KEEL
Bald Eagle
Keel, this handsome Bald Eagle was born last spring by Flagstaff Lake, Maine. Maine biologist, William Hanson climbed the nest and banded the eaglet when he was 5 weeks old. A few weeks later the eagle was fitted with a backpack satellite transmitter to learn more about where eagles from Maine go.
According to Bill Hanson last winter Keel found an all-you-can–eat buffet with other eagles at a turkey farm in Warren, Maine. In the spring he headed north to the Maine Quebec border. But then, his signal was lost. A week later the injured eagle was rescued by a warden and brought to Avian Haven in Freedom, Maine. You may remember Avian Haven where Noah, our educational eagle was rehabilitated.
Keel was dehydrated and malnourished. He had suffered an extremely forceful blow to the upper part of his chest which fractured the collar bone and the connection between the sternum and shoulder joint. According to Marc Payne of Avian Haven, Keel may have been hit by something as strong as a logging truck. A raptor the size of an eagle with this type of injury loses the power needed to raise his wings in flight. After several weeks of intensive care, Diane Winn and Marc Payne of Avian Haven were disappointed to realize that the eagle could not fly. Dr. Mark Pokras of Tufts University determined that the eagle could not be successfully released. Diane and Marc requested that the eagle be transferred to Wind Over Wings for education.
The US Fish & Wildlife Service and Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife approved the acquisition of Keel as part of our faculty. Keel recently was introduced to River, our surrogate Bald Eagle mother. He immediately joined her on a perch and stayed close to her. Then he explored his new home jumping to each perch, large shelves, and the strong rope to help develop balance. He jumped on stumps and sipped water in the garden pool. All this work makes one hungry so he settled down with a fish. We have begun Keel’s training process by reading to him to get him used to the human voice.
Special thanks to Diane Winn and Marc Payne, Dr. Marc Pokras, Valerie Slocumb and Peggy Labonte, Mark Stadler, Charlie Todd and Keel Kemper who allowed us to use his name.
The Board of Directors of Wind Over Wings wish to thank ETP Marketing for this web site and
Ken Mulcahy for ongoing updates.
Wind Over Wings
PO Box 289, Dresden, ME 04342
(207) 809-9168