Injured bald eagle flies again

An injured bald eagle was released back into the wild Saturday at Phelps Park, in a celebration of the work of a group called "SOAR" ("Save Our Avian Resources") and Decorah volunteers.

The bald eagle had been hit by a car on September 15th.  Several Good Samaritans--including Dean and Mike Loney, Dr. Paul Ostlie, Sheriff Leon Bohr and Raptor Resource Project director Bob Anderson--successfully rescued the bald eagle and transferred him to the custody of SOAR.

SOAR representative Kay Neumann said the bald eagle suffered from a lack of appetite and had to be "enticed" to eat food.  Gradually, however, the bald eagle, nicknamed "DJ," got its stamina back and was put into a larger flight pen, where it was able to practice flying again.

A group of 150 to 200 people gathered Saturday morning for the release.  Anderson told the crowd the bald eagle "clearly would have died" if not for the help of the local volunteers.  He said collisions between cars and bald eagles are fairly common because eagles are scavengers.  Anderson said, unlike this case, "most collisions aren't successes."

Then it was time for Neumann to take the 2-3 year-old bald eagle for a lap around the crowd.  She handed the bald eagle to Mike Loney, who threw it into the air.  The eagle flew to a nearby branch--and the crowd burst into applause.

(Left to right): Sheriff Lee Bohr, volunteers Dr. Paul Ostlie, Mike Loney and Dean Loney, Raptor Resource Project Director Bob Anderson

Another eagle, "Thora," recovered by SOAR