Christmas Eagle

[okieboater]

I did some web searching and ended up sending my donation to the address in Russellville AR for HAWK

dave

[magicmike]

Hawk will get a donation for sure. On there Facebook page they said they were the middle man. They sent her on to another facility. I'd like to donate to them too. Thanks for any more information. -M-

[Smo_Off]

Pretty Heavy Hearted to write. But she did not make it. Hawk Center gave an update from the facility that had her. She had respiratory distress and didnt pull through. I wrote the hawk center asking what more we could have done. Hopefully through this experience we can develop a better plan for helping injured animals we may find. Im still absolutely Heartbroken.

[Owl]

At the bottom of the HAWK Facebook page is a link for PayPal /credit card donations that makes giving easy.

[Smo_Off]

HAWK Center said there wasnt much we could have done.
They told me that lobbying for lead free shot is the best way.
A quick google search will show you how big of a problem this it.
With eagles dying each year due to eating lead shot.
This is a cause i will stand behind and be involved in.
HAWK Center still needs and deserves our donations.
The Eagle gave me the best christmas i have ever had.
Seeing her was better than any christmas gift i have ever unwrapped.

[Cowper]

Thanks everyone for trying to do the right things. As someone who likes to get out as often as possible, I've run into similar situations several times. Of about 4 birds that Debbie and I've tried in some way to rescue, so far I think only one has recovered, the other three were just reached too late. But the one that recovered was by all appearances one of the weakest at the time of rescue; it was a red tailed hawk that was literally drowning in a melted snow puddle only 1/2" deep because it was too weak to hold its head up out of the water.

In the case of this eagle, I think everyone should rest comfortably knowing that they did as much as was possible. If you had tried to take the bird to the rehabilitators when you first found it, the Federal penalties for being in possession of a "captured" eagle (without required licenses) are very severe. And it sounds like it wouldn't have changed the outcome anyway.

So it's sad, but, Good Job anyway!

[Lupe]

I think many hunters just aren't aware of the dangers of lead poisoning to bald eagles, so I think sharing this story with friends and family who hunt can make a difference. Hunters could choose to use "green ammo" with copper instead of lead - more expensive, but without the risk that your trimmings left in the woods could lead to the poisoning death of creatures such as bald eagles.

I think personal encounters create the most impact, so maybe someone from the Christmas day float might want to write a story for the next newsletter (Luke Coop can provide details on the next deadline) along with a photo? Maybe we can help spread the word so that those who want to take action could. As said earlier, a quick Google search will give you lots of info to read on this issue.

So sad that it was too late for the eagle you found, but thanks to the group for making the effort.