Jordan Lake. Captain Doug and I were still cruising on the lake when we saw an adult bald eagle come over the top of the trees and right on its tail feathers was a juvenile eagle. The adult did not have a fish so the youngster wasn’t chasing it to try to steal a meal. I do believe bald eagles sometimes just get all huffed up and have to chase anything that passes their horizon.

Jordan Lake. On our cruise last week Captain Doug and I were checking all of the bald eagle nests – we routinely do that all year around. We got over to the First Nest Cove and lo and behold there was one of the triplets. I believe this is the biggest of the three. Thought you might enjoy seeing this youngster out and about and don’t you just love that glare?

Jordan Lake. Captain Doug and I were out checking on the Bald Eagles. We came upon this two-year-old female bald eagle. She was perched way up high in a tree and not paying any attention at all to us. She took off and made a fishing run. Watch the video to see how persistent in her fishing the youngster turned out to be. Hope you enjoy!

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU FIND AN INJURED BALD EAGLE. Please read and keep the information handy.
REMEMBER: bald eagles are very DANGEROUS to handle and human safety comes FIRST in a rescue attempt.BEFORE TRYING TO GET THE INJURED EAGLE IN HAND FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW!!!

1) call the US Fish and Wildlife Services, southeast division (404) 679-7070

2) call the NC Wildlife Resources Commission 1 (800) 662-7137

3) reach out to the people who are Federally licensed to care for bald eagles:

Carolina Raptor Center (704) 875-6521, website https://carolinaraptorcenter.org

Wild at Heart Wildlife Sanctuary (910) 430-0794, website https://wildatheartsanctuary.org

Cape Fear Raptor Center (910) 687-6888 http://www.capefearraptorcenter.org

Joni Shimp, DVM, Rocky Point Animal Hospital, (910) 602-6633‬ http://www.rockypointvet.com

4) if you have not been able to reach anyone above or need additional info text me, Doc Ellen at (919) 801-2702

My thanks once again to Jim Stafford, Keith Megginson, Barbara Driscoll and the Carolina Raptor Center for trying so hard to help the bald eagle last week!

BALD EAGLE RESCUE in Wake County and WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND AN INJURED BALD EAGLE. First: my heartfelt thanks to Jim Stafford and his crew, Keith Megginson, Barbara Driscoll and the Carolina Raptor Center. A week ago I got a call from Jim Stafford of Gaines and Company Inc. of Knightdale. He was trying hard to get information on how to rescue an injured bald eagle that he and his crew found the day before while working on a construction site. They called NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and left information asking for help with the bald eagle but regretfully did not get a reply from them. Jim then reached out to the local wildlife rehab facilities – American Wildlife Refuge and CLAWS – and again got no responses. Jim was bewildered and upset as he wanted to help the eagle. By Thursday afternoon, as the eagle was visibly losing the fight to stay alive, his friend Barbara Driscoll had suggested that he call me. After much discussion and a lot of phone calls back-and-forth we got it arranged for Keith Megginson, (a monitor for the breeding bald eagles program for the US Army Corps of Engineers at Jordan Lake) to help with the actual capture of the bald eagle. I talked through the capture process with Keith and Jim. Keith gathered up the equipment needed and went to the site to help safely capture the bald eagle and get it ready for transport. Jim dropped everything in his busy schedule to transport the eagle from the capture site in Wake County to the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville. There were many hours spent by Jim and Keith with their only concern being the attempt to help the eagle. Regretfully, after the veterinarian at the Carolina Raptor Center examined the eagle it had to be euthanized. All of us involved wondered what might have been the outcome if knowledgeable help had been available the day the eagle was found. Tomorrow I will post WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU FIND AN INJURED BALD EAGLE. Please read and keep the information handy.