Pictures from Haines Alaska - Update Post 9 **We have an Eagle!**

[dukedogsmom]

Wow! What an adventure you're having! You'll remember this for the rest of your life. I love the first pic. Just beautiful! And I can't believe you climbed to the top of that mountain. I think it's neat about the notebook. I hope you find that eagle. Keep checking in with us. It's great to hear from you.

[lizbud]

What a wonderful experience for you. Wow, it's beautiful country there.
Please do send more pics when you can of the eagle or just more scenery.

I see what you mean by saying it's a great place to live.

[Logan]

What a great experience you are having! I love all of the pictures. I would love to come to Alaska, one day.

Logan

[Aspen and Misty]

Thanks guys! I love it here so much and everytime you turn around there is something new and beautiful to see.

The capture was a success. I currently have an eagle sitting on my porch in a large dog kennel awaiting an 8:15 flight to Juneau.

I got some good pictures of him through a peep hole in the kennel

A shot of our "Eagle kennel"


A nice body shot of him


an up close shot of his head - see how dirty he is? The black spots on him are bugs, he is obviously pretty bad off


My favorite shot of him


The Juneau Raptor center will be careing for him and hopefully getting him well enough to release. The bald spot on his chest is a lump of come kind. We aren't sure at this point what is making him ill, the lump or the wing. Hopefully whatever it is will be an easy fix and he will be back on his feet in no time!

Ashley

[chocolatepuppy]

Goodness, it is beautiful where you are! The eagle is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!

[critter crazy]

Oh Wow!! Great pics!!! That Eagle is just stunning!! Job well done!!

[Alysser]

OMG, Alaska is beautiful!! What pretty shots of such breath taking scenery. I am glad you got the Eagle. He's so gorgeous! What a striking eye.

[Cinder & Smoke]

The capture was a success.
I currently have an eagle sitting on my porch in a large dog kennel
awaiting an 8:15 flight to Juneau.

OK ... Just HOW does one go about the "Successful Capture" of a WILD Eagle??

He does NOT look like he's "smiling"!

Prayers for his Full Recovery!

[Aspen and Misty]

OK ... Just HOW does one go about the "Successful Capture" of a WILD Eagle??

He does NOT look like he's "smiling"!

Prayers for his Full Recovery!

Are you trying to imply that a sweet, little, cuddly eagle would hurt someone? No really. We did have to watch out for the talons that can crush human bones and the beak that can break fingers. Here is the whole story on his capture:

We had been watching him for 5 days. Yesterday he looked really bad so today we decided was the day to catch him. We went down to the beach and saw him stranded on a rock in the middle of high tide. We get a 24 foot tide here so most likely a few hours ago his rock was on dry land then slowly the rock became surounded by water. When Christa (my boss) and I walked up there were two people standing there watching him already. With the four of us the eagle became worried, lept into the ocean and swam out furthur to a "better" rock. Well this "better rock" was already covered in water and he was having trouble keeping a grip. He weighed his options, lept back into the ocean and swam for shore. Seeing that he was very dirty (rare for an eagle) and having a lot of trouble Christa and I decided now was the time to do it. We called Joel, our wild life "expert" and left a message telling him we were catching him. We recruited the two people from the beach who had been watching him and told them what the plan was. Christa cut into the woods and took a long detour around the eagle back to her truck where she got a blanket. She then walked towards the eagle from one side while I circled up and got between the eagle and the woods, the volenteer boy went straight forward from the other side and the volenteer girl went between him and the ocean (we basically surounded him). The eagle knew he was in trouble and his only hope was to get to the woods and in a tree. So he came waddling at me with claws, beak and wings flapping. I easily stepped out of the way because he was so weak and he really didn't want to hurt me, just to scare me. His plan worked and he was in the woods but he was too weak to get in a tree. We followed him and tried to throw the blanket on him a few times with no success, he was able to pull it off his head time after time. Eventually, and sadly, he got his injured wing stuck on a branch. At this point in time he tried fighting us as best he could by fliping on his back and snapping at everything within his reach with his talons and beak. Christa tossed the blanket over him and this time he just gave up and sat there. Joel showed up at this point in time and went back to the truck and got the dog crate. Christa grabed the eagles feet, joel grabed his head and they placed him in the dog kennel, shut the door and that was how we captured a wild eagle.

Ashley

[Cinder & Smoke]

Christa tossed the blanket over him and this time he just gave up and sat there.

Christa grabed the eagle's feet, Joel grabed his head
and they placed him in the dog kennel,
shut the door and that was how we captured a wild eagle.

A Textbook Capture, huh?

Did the poor thing ever try to *wave* his White Flag?

Hope he gets a Window Seat on the flight.

[Bengalz]

What spectacular scenery! And your eagle is just amazing. You are so fortunate to have this opportunity and I can certainly understand your sentiment about wanting to stay 'forever'. I'm sure your life perspectives have taken on new meaning. I really admire the work you're doing and the choices you've made

Thank you for sharing with us, Betty

[cassiesmom]

these are wonderful, thank you so much! My mom and dad visited the Alaska Raptor Center on their trip there.

[Randi]

What a beautiful scenery, and that eagle is gorgeous, glad you were able to capture him and get him cleaned up. Well done!!

[wolf_Q]

Beautiful photos!! Mind if I come visit you? I'd love to climb to the top of that mountain too. Looks like you are having a great time! I hope the eagle recovers too, what a stunning bird.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Where's da BIRD??

"Haines, the Eagle", not so happily *stuffed* into his Dawg Crate / Eagle Limo ...
made it safe & sound to Jaimie Sorg's care at the Juneau Raptor Center.

Here's the first of I hope many Hospital Progress Reports on "Our Bird" >>>

"I do think it's a male, and so far he exhibits all the signs of what we call a "failure to thrive".
Very underweight, muscle atrophy, bright-grass green mutes, and a voracious appetite.

So far, he is doing well eating as much fish as I can put in front of him.

Take care and I'll be in touch with an update to all this.......
/s/ Jaimie Sorg, Juneau Raptor Center
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Anyone interested in contributing some funds to help support Haines' "overhaul and tune-up"?

I'm sure the Raptor Center would appreciate some donations towards his care.
Think about it and post your thoughts.
Meanwhile, a few PT Prayers would help him a lot!

/s/ Phred