Re: Wild life Ambulance?

Posted by NewMexiKen on Apr 05, 2014; 3:53pm
URL: http://bald-eagles-of-broward-county-florida.17.s1.nabble.com/Wild-life-Ambulance-tp7573468p7573469.html

It was a false alarm. The eaglet was seen perched in a small shrub near the fence and it flew in towards the nest tree out of sight. Photos of it flying showed no signs of injury, but some people were concerned that it may have have possibly been injured in some manner, so the police were summoned and they called the wildlife ambulance. Several people were authorized to enter the area and found the eagle roosting 10 feet off the ground and flying freely.

The eaglet's behavior was normal. Although their first flight can be risky, if uninjured they may not be able to fly directly to the nest but can work their way up by "laddering" from one branch to another. It may take them a couple of days to get back to the nest, but they are driven by hunger to return. The parents will lure the eaglet back to the nest with food.

Unless there is evidence of injury there is no need to panic when an eaglet disappears upon fledging. Aside from visible signs of injury, other evidence may be distress calls from a fixed location. As is the case with any newly fledged bird of any species that is found near the nest, it should not be disturbed. Although folks may think the bird "fell out of the nest," it likely flew voluntarily but lacks sufficient skills to fly efficiently. As has been the case with the eagles, the fledgling will be under the watchful eye of the parents.