Independence Day in Girdwood for one lucky Bald Eagle

Jim Magowen/Turnagain Times Bird TLC volunteers, Megan Pool (behind kennel) and Laura Magowan duck as they release a rehabilitated eagle at Moose Meadows in Girdwood. Volunteers have learned to duck, fast, when they open the kennel to avoid a blow from a wing that can cause a painful bruise or even a broken nose, or, a slash of the eagles very long and powerful talons.

By James Magowen
Turnagain Times Correspondent

Saturday, Oct. 11, was Independence Day, at least for one young Bald Eagle that had spent the past year undergoing rehabilitation at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage.
The release was originally scheduled to be at the Bird Point parking area , but, when a small group of Bird TLC volunteers gathered at Bird Point they decided releasing a young eagle that had been in captivity for over a year was too risky in the howling wind.
When the group got to Moose Meadows in Girdwood conditions were much better so the three-year-old eagle was liberated in Moose Meadow. If flew out two hundred yards or so and landed at the edge of the meadow. The concerned volunteers walked out to check on it. As they approached where it had landed, the eagle made it clear that is was not going back to captivity. It took off and disappeared into the trees. A happy occasion for all, especially the liberated eagle.