Grounded Eaglet Rescue

I first saw the eaglet not flying on Sunday. Today the DEC and a rescue group, Friends of Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center sent representatives to try to capture the eaglet. It has been grounded since Sunday after it left the nest.

When they came multiple people helped look for her in the woods. She had jumped off a cliff onto a tree branch and the consensus was watch and if she was grounded again contact them. FFF’s representative, Mike, gave me his number to send him pictures of the wings. Later in the day when a few others saw a disastrous trip from a tree to the ground, I contacted Mike. He got the ball rolling for the DEC and a State Environmental Conservation Policeman to come.

Those of us waiting for people to try a second attempt at rescuing it were trying to keep an eye on the eaglet in the woods. She slowly walked up the hill taking breaks. It was a steep hill and no doubt was heading up to try to jump off the top again. As another person with me, Kathleen said, he was not getting lift. When they came Mark went above the cliff and I walked up the steep hill to try to pinpoint where the eaglet was. We also had two other ladies below the hill looking for the eaglet. It was hiding low in the brush. When the eaglet called we knew it was between Mark and I. Kevin Wamsley from the State Environmental Conservation Police and Chris Plummer from the Dept of Environmental Conservation came up the hill and looked between Mark and I. They very quickly found the eaglet. It was very close to where I was. Hence the above picture. I went partially down the hill and let the rescuers do their thing.

Kevin and Chris quickly with a net and blanket captured the eaglet with only a slight chase. They walked it down the hill a safer way, then put it in a container, and then into a vehicle. Tomorrow it is being picked up by Mike of FFF.

Why was it not picked up earlier? There are evidently other eaglets in the area that were slow to fly when they left the nest. One started flying yesterday or today. The difference was this eaglet has several feathers missing in its wings and tail. They think that is what is hindering it. Because of the other eaglets similar situations in this part of the state, they may have taken a wait and see approach.

I hope to be able to get updates on this eaglet’s progress. A lot of people tried to help today morning and night. We are all relieved the eaglet is getting care and will not be susceptible to predators another night.