Her name is Angel.
She was injured badly and taken care of at the Raptor Center in the Twin Now she lives at the National Eagle Center along the Mississippi in Wabasha Minn. Four other eagles also live there.
Volunteer friends come and take Angel for outings along the river in City Park.There she gets to go splashing in the shallow water along the rivers edge. She loves it 
Because of the severity of her injury Angel can't fly anymore. Sometimes, though, her wild cousins land in the trees in the park to visit her. Everyone gets excited when this happens.
There are many more eagles now along the river corridor. Being territorial, as river niches are filling, some are moving to nest far inland.Hundreds gather here, in winter, near a chicken farm, when fish are less available. They get the leftovers. 
Thousands of people get to see Angel at the Eagle Center. She is a great ambassador for her kind.We were lucky enough to meet her, "up close and personal" during her and our outing in the park. It was one of the best picnics we ever had. Then we had to go home. So did she. What a magnificent creature!
I remember seeing a special once about an eagle that could no longer fly, and his friend took him on a ride on a hang glider. It was a wonderful thing to see him up there looking around. And you're right: they are magnificent creatures!
ReplyDeleteI have seen a few over the summer. Where i live they trade places with the turkey vultures and love our open river during the winter.
ReplyDeleteOh, I do agree. Angel is indeed a magnificent creature. Lucky you to get so up close and personal with this grand bird.
ReplyDeleteAngel is a magnificent bird. Thank you for sharing her story and the great pictures of her.
ReplyDeleteHere in Tennessee we never saw Eagles and then at Reelfoot Lake they started appearing a few years back. Now if you are very lucky you can catch a glimpse of one in a tree as I suspect they are enlarging their territory around here. I am thrilled to see them and would have been thrilled to get a close look at that beautiful Angel.
ReplyDeleteWe used to keep eagle nests a carefully guarded secret around here. Now, there are enough of them (and this peninsula is so narrow) eagles can be seen by everyone, not that we ever have hundreds like Alaska and places like that. But, it is still an awesome sight.
ReplyDeleteThe first one we got in the rehab center blew my mind. I got to hold it for its shots. WOW!
Thanks for sharing Angel!
What a neat experience. We have been following the hatching of the eagles over at Decorah all summer. I don't seem them very often here in the middle of Iowa but the Des Moines river does have a few, I just don't live over there.
ReplyDeleteI would love to meet Angel.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great bird to know.
ReplyDeleteHi Ray, Hope you are doing well down there in the banana belt! You must have spring already! We are seeing Eagles year round too:)
ReplyDeleteThe people who look after these injured birds are to be commended on how that look after the birds so that they educate us.
ReplyDeleteHi Ray - they are amazing creatures and I'm so glad the volunteers are giving Angel some special attention and let her splash in the river's edge ... looks wonderful. I visited and enjoyed the raptor centre on Vancouver Island - great to know more about them - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteSo glad Angel is still around and how cool that she gets to hob nob with her kind at the river. That must be some sight.
ReplyDeleteGreat story. I especially like the idea of wild winged cousins visiting.
ReplyDeleteIn all my years, I have only once gotten to see a bald eagle in the wild . It was a memorable and wonderful sight.
ReplyDeleteWe like to go out to the Mississippi River in the winter to see the bald eagles between Dubuque and the Quad Cities.
ReplyDeleteHow kind of them to take Angel out to enjoy nature and the water. I'm sure she just loves that.
ReplyDeleteWe live in the south suburbs of Chicago and we've had an eagle flying over a very congested street here. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it. So, yeah...they are really expanding their territory. And it is such a treat when you see one!
I’ve met Angel! I never knew that since she moved to Wabasha she got to go on outings to the river and had visits by wild eagles. If you are an eagle and you can’t be wild and free, Angel has a pretty good life. I love the photo of you two!
ReplyDeleteAngel is a perfect name for such a gorgeous bird. I'm so glad she has outings !
ReplyDeleteDear Ray, I visited the raptor center when I lived in Stillwater. But I don't think Angel was there before 2009, when I moved here. What a wonderful experience to see her in the park at the water's edge. I noticed when driving up along the St. Croix that there were more and more raptors. I saw one several times at the Boom Site. Peace.
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