Well, I was heading out to get a little fishing in this morning (was supposed to yesterday, but my 19 month old son busted his big toe on a chair,) when I noticed a large bird floating at the mouth of Mallet Bayou. At first I thought it a duck, quickly decided it must be an osprey, but as I got closer could see that it was an adult bald eagle! I could see the eagle trying to flap his wings to fly away, but he could only move one and wasn't able to move very far.
I called a friend to get the FWC number, but the one in the phone book just rang and rang with no answer. I called Walton SO and they gave me an 800 number for FWC dispatch and wished me luck. I reported the injured bird to the FWC dispatch, and they told me that I would be called by the officer on duty. Within 5 minutes, had a call from the local officer who was up in Holmes County- I told him the situation and described the eagle. He met me at my house in 30 minutes and we took my boat back to the bird's location.
By this time the eagle had made it to the riprap on shore, so I poled the boat up to it, and we got off and walked toward it. He made a couple of desperate attempts to fly away, but was too injured and exhausted to really go anywhere. The FWC officer and I used the push pole to pin the bird down, and toss a jacket over his head. We grabbed a branch and wrapped tape around the talons and the branch. The bird had a badly broken wing, it was just flapping and hanging. It's mate was watching our every move from a nearby tree, we kept hearing his calls. We got the eagle into the FWC officer's truck and it was taken to Calhoun County where an eagle expert lives.
I just spoke with the FWC officer, he called to tell me that the bird was examined by a veterinarian and had 7 breaks in what equates to the forearm of the left wing. Tomorrow it will be taken to Gainesville, where hopefully it can be treated and rehabbed.
I was told that in most of these cases, the bird cannot be re-released into the wild, that they are placed into a sanctuary of some sort to live. Maybe this one will be an exception, it was eerie knowing we were being watched by it's mate- who knows what he was thinking (I know, I know.) This eagle was a truly impressive bird, it was awe-inspiring to be so close.
Kudos to the FWC and this officer, I was very impressed with their speed and genuine interest in helping out this injured bird.
Guess I'll go fishing tomorrow
I called a friend to get the FWC number, but the one in the phone book just rang and rang with no answer. I called Walton SO and they gave me an 800 number for FWC dispatch and wished me luck. I reported the injured bird to the FWC dispatch, and they told me that I would be called by the officer on duty. Within 5 minutes, had a call from the local officer who was up in Holmes County- I told him the situation and described the eagle. He met me at my house in 30 minutes and we took my boat back to the bird's location.
By this time the eagle had made it to the riprap on shore, so I poled the boat up to it, and we got off and walked toward it. He made a couple of desperate attempts to fly away, but was too injured and exhausted to really go anywhere. The FWC officer and I used the push pole to pin the bird down, and toss a jacket over his head. We grabbed a branch and wrapped tape around the talons and the branch. The bird had a badly broken wing, it was just flapping and hanging. It's mate was watching our every move from a nearby tree, we kept hearing his calls. We got the eagle into the FWC officer's truck and it was taken to Calhoun County where an eagle expert lives.
I just spoke with the FWC officer, he called to tell me that the bird was examined by a veterinarian and had 7 breaks in what equates to the forearm of the left wing. Tomorrow it will be taken to Gainesville, where hopefully it can be treated and rehabbed.
I was told that in most of these cases, the bird cannot be re-released into the wild, that they are placed into a sanctuary of some sort to live. Maybe this one will be an exception, it was eerie knowing we were being watched by it's mate- who knows what he was thinking (I know, I know.) This eagle was a truly impressive bird, it was awe-inspiring to be so close.
Kudos to the FWC and this officer, I was very impressed with their speed and genuine interest in helping out this injured bird.
Guess I'll go fishing tomorrow
Those are awesome birds 
.