[TN-Bird] Eagle Foster Parenting at American Eagle Foundation, Pigeon Forge
- From: "Bob Hatcher" <hatcher2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "TN-BIRD@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 20:59:06 -0500
You may be interested in the following news release concerning the current
foster parenting of a Columbus (Ohio) Zoo bald eaglet at the American Eagle
Foundation (AEF) in Pigeon Forge, TN. A live nest cam can also be viewed
during daylight hours for roughly 10 more days at the AEF web site,
www.eagles.org.
Bob Hatcher
Brentwood, TN
********************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2005
COLUMBUS ZOO EAGLET FINDS FOSTER PARENTS AT
AMERICAN EAGLE FOUNDATION IN TENNESEE
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.- A four-week-old bald eaglet that hatched at
the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and Aquarium has been placed under the foster care of
un-related eagle parents that reside at the American Eagle Foundation (AEF)
birds of prey center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
The youngster, produced by the zoo's bald eagle pair "George" and
"Barbara", arrived in the Volunteer State on May 18th, right after an
accidental leg injury left its natural father unable to help raise it. Two
eagle parents were still needed to diligently feed and brood the baby bird.
"Liberty" and "Justice," an experienced non-releasable bald eagle
breeding pair living in the AEF's "Eagle Mountain Sanctuary" exhibit, located
on the Dollywood family adventure park, are now nurturing and rearing the
eaglet. The pair was selected to provide special foster care to the chick after
their own three eggs proved to be infertile.
"As soon as the eaglet was placed in its new nest, these great foster parents
lost no time treating it like one of their very own", said Al Cecere, founder
and president of the AEF. "It's a wonderful sight to see".
Over the next two weeks, the eaglet and its new foster parents may be
viewed on an Internet video cam, as they lovingly interact as a family unit, by
visiting the AEF's www.eagles.org website (and clicking the Eagle Cam button).
The AEF had already been scheduled to release the bird in July (at 12
or 13 weeks of age) from the organization's hacking facility on Douglas Lake in
the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. However, after "George" received
the injury, he had to be temporarily removed from the Columbus Zoo's eagle
aviary for vet treatment. Zoo officials then deemed it necessary to move the
eaglet to Tennessee earlier than planned to ensure the best possible care by
qualified parents.
"Liberty" and "Justice" have previously proven themselves to be good
parents by successfully hatching and rearing 13 young since 1993. After the
pair's own three eggs did not hatch in May during the usual 35-day incubation
period, AEF officials removed the eggs and replaced them with an empty broken
egg shell and the 30-day old eaglet.
This is not the first time that the AEF and Columbus Zoo have
joined forces. In a few weeks, the new eaglet will join a number of bald
eaglets from the Columbus Zoo that have been previously released into the wild
from the AEF hacking facilities in the Great Smoky Mountains area.
The AEF's work with the new eaglet will culminate once the bird
reaches full size at 12-13 weeks of age and is released into the wild to fly
for the first time. After bald eagles reach sexual maturity at 4-5 years of
age, they tend to return to nest within the general region of their first
flight.
Both male and female parent eagles take turns sitting on eggs, hunting
for food, and guarding the nest, as well as feeding and brooding their young.
The AEF located in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., is dedicated to the
recovery and protection of bald eagles and their habitat. Since 1985, the AEF
has contributed to releasing a majority of the 294 bald eaglets from seven
Tennessee hacking sites in cooperation with the TWRA and U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service. Since 1992, the organization has released 80 captive-hatched eaglets
into the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains area on Douglas Lake. It
operates the largest bald eagle captive breeding program in the world.
The AEF provides daily, year-round care to more than 70
non-releasable North American birds of prey, including 35 bald and golden
eagles, and has conducted/supported various public education and eagle projects
in a number of States.
-americaneaglefoundation2005-
For more information contact Al Cecere, AEF President & CEO, at 865-429-0157
(office), 865-256-0372 (mobile), savetheeagle@xxxxxxx (e-mail) or Pete Owens,
Dollywood Public Relations Manager, at 865-428-9486 (office),
powens@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (e-mail) or Jeff Glorioso, Columbus Zoo Marketing
Director, at 614-645-3490 (office), Jeff.Glorioso@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (e-mail).
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