The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey will release their 500th rehabilitated Bald Eagle back to the Florida skies at 10:00 AM on Thursday, May 14. The release will be held at the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands at Viera in Melbourne, FL.
“When you see a Bald Eagle in Florida’s skies, you are witness to one of conservation’s greatest success stories,” said Eric Draper, Executive Director of Audubon Florida. “But they still need help. The most significant threats to eagles today are loss of habitat and injuries due to human activity.”
The eagle - named “Charlie” - was rescued on February 6, 2015 by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer at Viera Wetlands Park. He was suffering from a dislocated right shoulder and was unable to fly. Audubon began Charlie’s treatment with the goal of releasing him back to the wild.
The eagle received daily medical care and attention for over two months. It was during this time that Charlie became a favorite patient of Center volunteers and staff, who were anxious to see the eagle recover.
In April, staff were able to transfer the eagle to Audubon’s Magic of Flight Barn, where he had the space to exercise his injured wing and relearn how to fly. To the delight of everyone involved, Charlie took to the air as soon as staff placed him in the enclosure.
After a few weeks of practice hunting and catching prey, Charlie was ready for release.
“We are proud to have released 500 Bald Eagles back to the wild over our 35 years of operation,” said Katie Warner, Program Manager for the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. “This important milestone is a testament to the dedication our caring volunteers and donors.”
Releasing the 500th eagle is a fitting tribute to the crucial role Audubon Center for Birds of Prey has played in the recovery and continuing success of the Bald Eagle.While Florida’s population of eagles has recovered significantly since the pesticide-induced decline in the 1960’s, loss of habitat due to land development continues to add increased pressures to the state’s eagle population.
Charlie will be released by Dr. Ann Harwood-Nuss, a member of the Board of Directors of Audubon Florida and retired physician of emergency medicine.
Audubon continues to be a leader in eagle care and education. We have more than 250 volunteers monitoring eagle nests statewide as part of our EagleWatch citizen science program.
