The eagle has lan — errr, been transferred

Late last week, the eagle wended his way to Chattahoochee Nature Center, courtesy of Beth Thomson of Blue Ridge Raptors, who’d come to retrieve her screech as soon as the federal paperwork was approved for his use as an ed bird. Yay on both counts!

The eagle almost immediately showed his stuff at CNC, according to colleague Kathryn Dudeck, who reported that he hopped from the ground to a four-foot-high perch and then to a ten-foot-high one; within a couple of hours in the larger flight, he’d flown the full length of that flight.  There were some excited rehabbers, from CNC all the way south to LWR, at that news!

Below are some photos and videos I took before he left LWR and some photos Beth and Kathryn sent from CNC.

At LWR:

At CNC:

The screech, once he’s acclimated to his new digs, will be trained to the glove and other behaviors needed for educational purposes. Beth kindly sent some photos of him once she’d arrived home with him. He’s got the Ritz of raptor accommodations with Beth!

The red tail remains in the mini-pen and is utterly gorgeous and a little goofy.

After the eagle’s transfer and some clean-up in the main flight, the great horned owl was moved into it. This morning he was on the perch above the door but flew to the ground when I walked in. Yesterday he got his first experience of rain, which we sorely needed. He, however, was not amused…

That leaves the barnie inside, waiting her turn in the flight.

Sadly, the barbed wire screech required euthanasia; the soft tissue damage to his wing was causing it to droop badly. I suspect a tendon or ligament had been torn by the barbs or by his struggles to free himself.

A first-year red tail who came in last week also required euthanasia after x-rays at Smalley’s revealed his femur was basically shattered.

Hope y’all all enjoy your Fourth celebrations this week!