In this Feb. 26, 2016 file photo, a bald eagle, which was recently named America by the owners of For Heaven's Sake Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, stands on top of a wooden perch in a large enclosure at the Rochester animal clinic on Friday afternoon. The eagle, which was found in Winlock on Tuesday Feb. 23, has a broken wing and an aviary veterinarian wrapped the wing in hopes that would heal on its own. David Supensky, who runs For Heaven's Sake, with his wife, Claudia, expected the eagle's healing to take about a month.
Seven months after he was first found floundering in a field with a broken wing, America the eagle is finally headed home.
At 2 p.m. Tuesday, For Heaven’s Sake Animal Rescue will release the bald eagle back into the wild at the same field in Winlock where it was found with a broken wing back on Feb. 23.
After the property owner noticed the bird and reported its condition, For Heaven’s Sake Animal Rescue, out of Rochester, took in the injured eagle.
It was initially believed to be a female, but now the owners of the rescue believe it’s male.
The road to recovery was long and full of uncertainty. At first, veterinarians were doubtful that America would ever regain the ability to fly, and for many months he didn’t. But then, over the summer, America began to make incremental progress.
“I would say that he started flying pretty good around the first of August or the last of July,” said Claudia Supensky, who runs the For Heaven’s Sake wild animal rescue and rehabilitation center with her husband, David. “He surprised us all. I’ll tell you, for the longest time we thought, ‘He’s not going to fly.’ But He is. He’s doing great.”
The property owner who found the injured eagle in his field has noted that America previously had a companion eagle and that they would soar over his property in unison before the injury. By releasing America back at the same property, the hope is that he will be able to reconnect with his mate.
“The guy whose property this bird was found on said there was another one that hung around for days after America was taken away,” explained Supensky. “We’re hoping that it hasn’t been too long and she’ll still be around there and they’ll get back together.”
The eagle release party is open to the public and will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, at 470 Tennessee Road, Winlock.
“We’re very happy because there’d never be a bald eagle that I’d like to see stay in captivity if it can be released and be successful in the wild,” said Supensky.
