Tag: Eagle

Bald eagle mistaken for trashbag on the road to recovery

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A Pennsylvania resident recently arrived home to find what looked like an unassuming black trash bag in their yard. But the bag moved and lifted its head. Turns out, it was not a bag, but a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). And something was very wrong with her.  A state Game Warden brought the eagle to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center in southern Pennsylvania to be checked out. The bird couldn’t stand and her legs were limp, which is a typical symptom of spinal trauma. Nonetheless, the team also tested the eagle for lead poisoning, and found that she indeed had lead in her system. Even though the eagle wasn’t showing signs of such poisoning, they weren’t surprised by these results. In a 2022 study published in the journal Science, researchers investigated lead exposure in 1,210 bald and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in North America and found chronic lead poisoning in 46 to 47 percent of both eagles and acute lead poisoning in 27 to 33 percent of bald eagles.

Lead exposure in eagles and other avian scavengers mostly occurs when they consume the remains of animals shot with lead ammunition and left behind by hunters.  “Lead poisoning is so common that even eagles brought in for other injuries are now routinely tested for it, and almost all show some level of lead in their system,” Tracie Young, Raven Ridge Wildlife Center director, tells Popular Science.  Even small quantities of lead can be extremely toxic. Lead poisoning can cause brain swelling, trouble breathing, weak muscles, dehydration, starvation, kidney and liver problems, or seizures, Young explains.  “Nerve damage can cause them to lose vision, coordination, and normal movement, so the bird may look ‘drunk’ or not be able to stand,” she continues. “When these eagles are starving, they lose their hunting skills and can’t catch food. As scavengers, they look for roadkill, but because they are uncoordinated, they often get hit by vehicles.” It’s likely that this is what happened to the trash-bag-looking female eagle in Pennsylvania. At the wildlife center, she received chelation therapy for the lead poisoning.

Chelation therapy involves the administration of administering specialized chemical agents that attach to the lead molecules in the bird’s blood and form a compound that is expelled, mostly via urine. The eagle also received physical therapy to regain strength in her legs and mitigate spinal pain and swelling.  Her rehabilitation process has been challenging, but not without its rewards. She is currently able to stand and lives in an outdoor area with an open space where she can continue her rehabilitation process. The eagle is a good candidate for release, but Young says she will require weeks of flight training.   “We urge all hunters and anglers to make a crucial choice: opt for lead-free ammunition and lead-free fishing gear,” the wildlife center wrote in a Facebook post. “This single decision at checkout can significantly improve the lives of countless eagles and other wildlife suffering from lead poisoning.”

Source: Bald eagle mistaken for trashbag on the road to recovery | Popular Science

Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Romans 13:7

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Maryland State Police intern helps rescue injured bald eagle from roadway

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A Maryland State Police intern found himself on an incredible, unexpected assignment this week.  The department posted two photos on social media Friday, showing Centreville Barrack intern Jackson Roach holding a bald eagle.  State police said Roach joined Trooper A. Setter and an off-duty law enforcement officer in removing the injured bird from the area of westbound Route 50 and Route 301 on Wednesday.  They brought the bald eagle back to their barrack and contacted Owl Moon Raptor Center, which came to get the bird.  A Maryland State Police intern found himself on an incredible, unexpected assignment this week as he helped rescue an injured bald eagle. Maryland State Police The social media photos show Roach smiling as he swaddles the eagle in what appears to be a towel. 

“Maryland State Police interns get opportunities to learn, serve, and experience the work of law enforcement firsthand. Maybe even in an unexpected way,” State police offer unpaid internships with five different pathways, including a Standard Internship over the fall, spring or summer for current students or a Service Year Option for a 10-month, full-time commitment. “The Maryland State Police (MDSP) Internship Program is a non-paid mentorship initiative designed to introduce students to the administrative and operational functions of our agency. It aims to provide direction for students considering career paths in both civilian and sworn fields,” the website reads.

“Many program participants have gone on to pursue careers as a Cadet, Trooper, or in a civilian role with the Maryland State Police.” Owl Moon is a wildlife rehabilitation center in Montgomery County that rescues birds of prey and releases them back into the wild. “Our mission is to rescue and rehabilitate injured, sick, and orphaned birds of prey and return them to the wild in sound, athletic condition; and to educate the public about raptors in the process,” the organization’s website reads. Last month, they shared photos of a red-tailed hawk and five juvenile red-shouldered hawks they helped rehabilitate.

Source: Maryland State Police intern helps rescue injured bald eagle from roadway – CBS Baltimore

However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
1 Timothy 1:16

Hunted for Following Jesus

In some communities, Muslims who leave Islam to follow Christ face rejection, threats, violence, and even death because of their faith. For Muslim-background believers, choosing to follow…

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Texas man sentenced for killing bald eagle

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brown and white eagle on leafless tree

A Houston-area man is headed to federal prison for shooting and killing a bald eagle. A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, said 43-year-old Santos Guerrero pleaded guilty on May 14. He was sentenced in August to 14 days behind bars and must also pay a $5,000 fine. In an email to NBC 5, Guerrero’s attorney Luis Baez wrote, “Mr. Guerrero is a hard-working, local business owner, and proud family man.

He accepted responsibility before Judge Gray and is looking forward to closing the case. The Government asked the Court for 30 days in jail, 1 year of federal probation, and a $9,500.00 fine. After hearing from both sides, Judge Bray sentenced him to 15 days with a $5,000.00 fine.” Texas Game Wardens were the first to learn about the shooting. In October 2024, a concerned citizen reported seeing a bald eagle that had been shot in Montgomery County. Texas Game Wardens responded and investigated, ultimately locating the injured eagle hidden beneath a tarp in Guerrero’s garage.

Veterinarians later euthanized the eagle because of the severity of its injuries. Texas Game Wardens turned over the case to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for further investigation and prosecution. In May, Guerrero admitted he shot the bald eagle at his residence. At the hearing in August, the court heard additional evidence that Guerrero shot the eagle in his backyard on Oct. 11, 2024, hid it in his garage, and later lied to authorities.

The court also reviewed video footage documenting the eagle before the shooting and its subsequent discovery. A necropsy determined that the bullet significantly damaged the eagle’s wing. The fall also caused liver fractures, internal bleeding, and a fractured leg. The eagle was euthanized.

After the sentencing, NBC 5 requested the video that the court reviewed. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service posted a video to the Department of the Interior Law Enforcement’s social media page. The post included a warning, “The following video contains graphic content depicting a bald eagle being shot, falling from a tree and ultimately dying due to human actions. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.”

The post goes on to say, “While we understand this video is difficult to watch, this post is intended to be educational and unfiltered. Its purpose is to help viewers recognize that these incidents occur and to highlight why the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has these regulations in place.”

U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray sentenced Guerrero, who was permitted to remain free on bond, and who will voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility on a date to be determined in the near future.

Although bald eagles are no longer listed as endangered, federal law continues to protect them under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The law prohibits anyone from killing, possessing, selling, transporting, exporting, or importing any bald or golden eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest, or egg, without authorization.

Source: Texas man sentenced for killing bald eagle – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:1-2

Powerful earthquake shakes Panama

A major earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 has struck Panama, according to the US Geological Survey. Local media are reporting structural damage in some parts of the country.…

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Green-feathered bald eagle rescued in Pennsylvania

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close up portrait of majestic bald eagle in nature

The Raven Ridge Wildlife Center rescued an injured bald eagle with green tail feathers. According to the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center, they received a call from their eagle capture and transport volunteer, who had been contacted by the PA State Game Warden regarding a downed eagle in someone’s yard with a drooping wing. Once the wildlife center received the eagle, staff saw the right wing drooping, but also noticed another peculiar trait.

The eagle’s tail feathers were green, which Raven Ridge Wildlife Center says can sometimes be due to poisoning or emaciation. “We did blood work on the Eagle, and sure enough, it was positive for lead poisoning,” Raven Ridge explained. “This Eagle was taken to Companion Animal Hospital for X-rays, where Dr. Genova and our Rehabilitator found that the Eagle had a fractured coracoid.” According to Raven Ridge, these types of injuries usually occur when eagles are hit by cars while looking for an easy meal alongside the road. The bald eagle is now being treated for lead poisoning and for the fracture of the coracoid.

The bald eagle’s first round of chelation therapy has been completed, and the eagle is now eating on her own. Raven Ridge will perform follow-up X-rays in two weeks to assess how the fracture is healing. “At Raven Ridge, we will always give an animal a chance and consult our veterinary team for guidance,” Raven Ridge added. “We are hopeful for a full recovery with the treatment, as we know this will be a very long time of rehabilitation as this Eagle recovers.”

Source: Green-feathered bald eagle rescued in Pennsylvania | ABC27

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Plague in Russia?

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Washington man accused of shooting, killing bald eagle facing federal charges

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Federal criminal charges have been filed against a Washington state man whom authorities allege fatally shot a bald eagle in the head on his rural property, authorities said. Benjamin G. Allen of Brush Prairie in Clark County, Washington, was charged Tuesday with violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and unlawfully killing a migratory bird, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

If convicted of the misdemeanor charges, Allen could face up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $500,000, the statement said. ABC News could not reach Allen for comment on Wednesday. It was unclear if Allen has hired an attorney. The 66-year-old Allen “is accused of shooting and killing the bird with a shotgun,” according to the statement. The incident occurred on Feb. 5, 2026, when a witness reported hearing a gunshot coming from Allen’s property, the statement said. “According to records in the case, special agents from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife were called to the property in Brush Prairie regarding a dead eagle with blood around its head,” according to the statement, which further said that agents interviewed Allen about the deceased eagle and “his actions that day.”

The statement did not disclose what Allen may have told the agents. “Allen kept chickens not far from where the dead eagle was discovered,” the statement noted, adding that an exam by a veterinarian concluded the eagle died from two shotgun pellets found in its brain. Allen has been summoned to appear in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Washington, on Sept. 8. While bald eagles are the national symbol of the United States, they are no longer considered endangered. The birds, however, are still protected under the 1940 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which prohibits individuals from killing them.

The charges against Allen come after a 42-year-old Texas man, Santos Guerrero, pleaded guilty in May to federal charges that he fatally shot a bald eagle on his property near Houston in 2024. Guerrero faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine when sentenced, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. In another case in Washington state, 49-year-old Travis John Branson of Cusick was sentenced to nearly four years in prison and fined $777,250 after he pleaded guilty in 2024 to charges stemming from the killing of numerous eagles and hawks on Washington’s Flathead Indian Reservation, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors said Branson admitted to a self-described “killing spree” of thousands of eagles and hawks between 2009 and 2021, butchering the birds and selling their parts, including eagle feathers, on the black market. Prosecutors said investigators traced the deaths of 118 eagles and 107 hawks directly to Branson.

Source: Washington man accused of shooting, killing bald eagle facing federal charges – ABC7 Chicago

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Psalm 145:18

For God so Loved the World

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2 Timothy 3:12 

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted Paul was reminding Timothy that following Christ does not guarantee an easy life. When we choose…

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John 15:18–20

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Galatians 1:6-10

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Isaiah 45:2

“I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, This verse reminds…

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Big Bear wildlife activists name eagle spotted with Shadow

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Bald eagle flying over mountain peaks at sunset

Wildlife activists on Thursday named the new eagle that has been spotted following Shadow through Big Bear’s treetops and skies. “Generally, Friends of Big Bear Valley does not give names to nest visitors unless they have been around long-term…until now,” the Friends of Big Bear Valley wrote in a Facebook post. FOBBV chose the name Kaydee after referring to the eagle as KD1 for the past week. Shadow’s new companion was spotted just days after his longtime mate, Jackie, died after nearly a month of health setbacks stemming from anemia and a mystery illness. Kaydee is a banded eaglet that hatched in the Prado Basin in Riverside County in 2021, according to field biologist Jenna Carpenter.

Her parents, named Ricky and Lucy, arrived in the Prado Basin 6 years ago and built a nest. KD hatched the second year, one of nine eagles who fledged here. She, like many eagles, is currently in Big Bear, which is normal behavior for young adults. “A lot of eagles just go to Big Bear to hang out for a while,” Carpenter said. “It’s not breeding season right now and so most of the eagles what they’re thinking about is being in good habitat with good food.” FOBBV said they aren’t sure if Kaydee is female but “are leaning towards” the eagle being female. Birdwatchers said Kaydee and Shadow have been flying around together for the past couple of days, flying to different trees and sometimes perching themselves on different branches for hours. 

Source: Big Bear wildlife activists name eagle spotted with Shadow – CBS Los Angeles

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:6

Proverbs 21:23

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. This verse emphasizes that people who carefully watch what they say will protect themselves from serious trouble.…

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Psalm 5:8

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. In the verse David is praying in the morning while people who…

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5 bald eagles mysteriously found dead in Michigan ‘not due to natural causes’

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head of bald eagle

Five bald eagles were found dead in Michigan in a two-week span — sparking concern as environmental officials ruled they did not die from natural causes. All of the federally protected birds were discovered in the same area of the Upper Peninsula’s Garden Peninsula between April 3 and April 17, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Officials later determined that the bald eagles “did not die from natural causes, predators, or vehicle collisions.”

Source: 5 bald eagles mysteriously found dead in Michigan ‘not due to natural causes’

O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
Isaiah 25:1

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5 birds still missing after break-in at Marysville falconry facility

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close up of a majestic great horned owl

A Yuba County falconry said someone broke into the facility and intentionally released nearly a dozen birds from their enclosures on Thursday night. Staff at West Coast Falconry say the incident happened overnight, when someone entered the property, cut off tracking gear attached to the birds and forced them out of their enclosures. The facility said 11 birds were released during the break-in. Most have since been recovered, but five remain missing: an African black eagle, a barn owl, a great horned owl, a peregrine falcon and a dark morph red-tailed hawk.

The African black eagle is described as a large black bird with an estimated six-foot wingspan and white markings on its back. Officials say the birds may resemble native species commonly seen in the area, but stress these animals were bred in captivity and are not capable of surviving on their own. West Coast Falconry said the birds are imprinted on people and may behave differently from wild birds. Authorities, including the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and federal wildlife officials, have been notified and are assisting in the response. Search efforts are ongoing.

Source: 5 birds still missing after break-in at Marysville falconry facility – CBS Sacramento

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.
Philippians 3:10

Watch Pittsburgh’s bald eagle couple, eaglets online with nest cam

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close up photo of eyases falcons

Over Easter weekend, famous eagle couple Jackie and Shadow welcomed a pair of eaglets in front of the world, as the hatchlings were captured live on the nest cam in Big Bear Valley, about 11 miles from Los Angeles. Pittsburgh has its own eagle family that welcomed chicks recently, too. Here’s what to know about them, and where to spot the birds in person. Who are Pittsburgh’s bald eagle couple? Bald eagles Stella and Irvin reside in a nest at U.S. Steel Corporation’s Mon Valley Works Irvin Plant in West Mifflin, about 12 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The eagles welcomed three chicks that hatched within the last month.

Source: Watch Pittsburgh’s bald eagle couple, eaglets online with nest cam

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15

First Big Bear bald eaglet hatches as second egg sees a pip

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bald eagle perched on tree branch

Just days after the first pip of nesting season for Big Bear bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow, their first eaglet has hatched, and their second egg has a pip as Southern California fans of the duo anxiously await their newest family members. The eaglet hatched from its egg at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley. Earlier in the day, they advised fans that a bird is not considered hatched until it is completely free from its eggshell. 

The newest Big Bear bald eaglet, fully hatched from its shell on Saturday, April 4, 2026. Friends of Big Bear Valley “The chick has popped its head out of the shell to say a happy hatch day to mom and dad!” a Facebook post said, noting that the second egg belonging to the couple also appeared to have a pip.  Video from after the first egg’s pipping on Friday allowed a chance to hear the small chirps from the newest eaglet. FOBBV members said it can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for a chick to fully hatch after the initial pip. After that, the birds grow rather quickly, reaching three feet in just over two months.  A “pip” is the moment that the chick can break through the internal membrane, breach the eggshell and take its first breath of air, according to FOBBV.

Source: First Big Bear bald eaglet hatches as second egg sees a pip – CBS Los Angeles

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 11:4

Big Bear eagles Jackie and Shadow see first pip of 2026 hatching season

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bald eagle on tree

The nonprofit, which operates the widely viewed Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam, said chirping sounds were heard from inside the egg beginning Thursday afternoon and continuing through the night, signaling the eaglet had broken through the internal membrane and taken its first breath of air. By Friday, observers identified what appeared to be a pip, indicating the hatching process is underway. “This indicates that the chick was able to break the internal membrane and took its first breath of air,” the organization shared in a social media update. “Today we spotted an apparent pip (breach in the eggshell) and hatching is in the works.” Wildlife experts note that once a pip appears, it can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for the chick to fully emerge from the egg. Jackie and Shadow’s nesting season has drawn global attention through the live camera feed, with viewers closely following each stage from egg-laying to hatching and eventual fledging.

Source: Big Bear eagles Jackie and Shadow see first pip of 2026 hatching season

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matthew 16:25