This is Spirit, a bald eagle in residence at Boyd’s Hill Nature Preserve.
This is Spirit’s (infertile) egg.
I don’t know about you, but I’d never seen a bald eagle egg before. We just happened to be there when this one showed up. I guess if I kept a life-egg list, this would be one for the books.
Here’s a close-up of Spirit.
I’m pretty sure Vicki took this last picture, since she was able to go inside the cage. On the others, I took some and she took some, and I didn’t keep track of which was which. But you should go see definite Vicki-pictures on her blog, where she recounts Spirit’s surgery to set a broken leg, with a follow-up happy-ending recovery post.
I added the note about the happy ending, in case you’re like me, and don’t like the suspense of worrying about the fate of a truly noble bird. I couldn’t bear to think that she wouldn’t recover, despite her age, when I’d just seen her a few days before.
Be well, Spirit.
Update: And now, sadly, a not-so-happy post on Vicki’s blog: Linky Goodness, for better and worse. I can’t write any more right now, as Vicki’s comment took me by surprise and her post greatly saddened me. I have only a passing acquaintance with Spirit, but that was enough to forge a bond; I can only imagine the worry that those who have known her longer and love her deeply must feel. I hold her in my heart, and hope you will, too.
One final statement from my original post remains true:
Thank you to rehabbers everywhere.
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Yesterday, on the local portion of NPR, I heard an interview with a wildlife rehabber in St. Augustine who I knew back in the early 80′s. I have not seen or spoken with her since those days, but I happened to turn on the radio just as they said her name. She was saving critters back then and apparently is still going strong in the rescue arena.
That’s a alot of rescued critters and birds.
Rehabbers’ dedication is amazing. I have tremendous respect for the work they do, almost always without pay, and almost always at personal cost. Their ability to put the animal first and do what is right for it is amazing. Nearly 30 years of rehabbing must be a labor of love.
Wren: What a beauty, I love to see any eagle.
Thanks for this post, Wren. I slipped on over to Vicki’s blog just now to learn of Spirit’s failing health. I am so sad for her. I have tears, as if I have been personally involved all along. ~karen
Thank you, Wren. Check my blog update…
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