Trouble - Bald Eagle
Trouble, a male bald eagle, has an unusual history. In 1986, a wildlife photographer taking photos of an eagle nest noticed that one of the young birds had a deformed beak. He contacted the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, and staff received permission to remove the eaglet from the nest for examination. The deformity, probably a congenital defect, would have prevented the young eagle from tearing his food and feeding himself once he fledged the nest. Several surgeries corrected the misalignment to the point where Trouble can eat on his own, but because the beak continues to grow in the crooked position, he is non-releasable.
Trouble is a glove-trained Audubon Ambassador, and one of the Center’s most famous residents. He appears at many functions, spreading his wings on cue and providing an inspirational touch to patriotic events.
Paige - Bald Eagle
Paige, an adult female Bald Eagle, came to the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in April of 1995 as a fledgling suffering from avian pox and a fractured humerus and ulna. Center staff believes that Paige fell from her nest due to impaired vision caused by the pox. Her fractures were likely a result of that fall and resulted in limited extension of her right wing. Although the pox was treated successfully, she is non-releasable due to her inability to fly well enough to survive in the wild. Paige has been glove-trained to work as an Audubon Ambassador and often participates in educational programs. At a weight of over 10 pounds and a length of 32 inches from head to tail, she is the largest bird at the Center.
Francis - Bald Eagle
Francis, an adult male bald eagle, came to the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey as a very young eaglet in April of 1991. Most likely kicked out of his nest by his parents because of a respiratory infection and a cataract in one eye, he was a very sick little eagle when admitted.
Because Francis required constant care, he was literally hand-raised by center staff. It was soon determined that reduced lung capacity from the infection and an inoperable eye defect rendered the young eagle non-releasable. Francis is glove-trained and very comfortable around the public, participating in educational programs as an Audubon ambassador. Francis is named for St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.
Because Francis required constant care, he was literally hand-raised by center staff. It was soon determined that reduced lung capacity from the infection and an inoperable eye defect rendered the young eagle non-releasable. Francis is glove-trained and very comfortable around the public, participating in educational programs as an Audubon ambassador. Francis is named for St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.
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