Good-bye, Old Friend

I started volunteering at Dodge in 1992. One of the exciting things that was part of the nature center was that it had raptors. I helped with programs using the great horned owl and learned about both the golden eagle and the bald eagle. And when I became a raptor volunteer, I got to work with the bald eagle - cleaning its mew, holding it during check-ups, feeding it. During summers, it loved to be sprayed with a gentle mist from the hose - it would hold out its one wing and flap it - obviously enjoying the shower.
 
Whenever I would do raptor programs and take groups to visit the raptors in their mews, I'd remind them that these birds weren't our pets - that they didn't particularly like us the way a pet dog or cat does, and it was important to treat the birds with respect because they were still wild. I respected the eagle and was always thrilled to be able to work so closely with such an amazing bird.
 
In the wild, eagles live to be about 15-20 years old, on average. Our eagle was at least 35 (it's been here since 1979 and was at least 5 years when it arrived.) Even with the constant care and supervision education birds received, they still get old and their bodies wear out.  And that's what happened this past week. The eagle's body systems started to wear out and shut down, and the decision was made to euthanize it since its quality of life was so diminished. I'll miss her steely stare and raucous cry and watching her watch eagles soaring above the nature center grounds.
Farewell and fly free, eagle!
 
Read more about the passing of Dodge's bald eagle in this article that appeared in today's Pioneer Press (http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_20105953).



Dodge Nature Center's Bald Eagle