Photo

Pirate Waters

2008-07-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

The Adna High School baseball squad had an amazing season finishing second in the State 2B ranks.

Eagle Soars Again

2008-04-24T15:39:00.000-07:00

Eagle released at state park

By Aaron VanTuyl February 13, 2006

WINLOCK -- A bald eagle found injured at Lewis and Clark State Park on Dec. 23 was sent back into the wild on Saturday, not far from where she was originally discovered.
"As you can see, she's awfully sick of us," said Bob Sallinger, urban conservation director for the Portland Audubon Society Wildlife Care Center.
Nearly 70 eagle enthusiasts gathered in an open back field at the park to witness the 13 1/2-pound bird take flight after nearly seven weeks of recuperation at the Portland care center. Among the crowd was Barry Gilmon, the local hiker who first found the bird.
"It tried to fly, and then took off walking," said Gilmon, of his eagle encounter. "It kind of looked at me, and I looked at it."
The bird, according to Gilmon, was about 15 yards off of the trail, wandering through old-growth timber.
"What do you do?" he asked.
Gilmon called John Liparelli, a park ranger with Lewis and Clark State Park, who helped two other wildlife workers recover the bird. The eagle had sustained a head wound and a flesh injury on her wing, and was hopping through the forest, covering about eight feet with each bound.
"It's one of the scariest things I've done," said Liparelli, laughing. "They're an interesting creature, and kind of vicious at times."
On Dec. 23, the bird was captured using a salmon fishing net, and was safely taken to the Ocean Beach Animal Hospital. The next day, she was transferred to the Portland Audubon center, where she quickly recovered.
At the center, the eagle was set in a small cage, and then was moved to a 100-foot-long, 30-foot-wide, 30-foot-high flight cage. Her first stint in the flight cage was unsuccessful, but, after further recuperation, she was given a second chance.
"She tore the d--- thing apart," said a happy Sallinger. "She's made a full recovery, and we feel very good about the bird."
A few minutes after noon on Saturday, Sallinger pulled the big white-headed female out of the small cage. He removed a leather hood, in place to keep the bird calm during transportation. After showing off the impressive eagle to the crowd, he handed the bird over to Karen Munday, an urban wildlife specialist with Portland Audubon, who stepped out into the field to set the bird free.
Rather than take off, the eagle wandered around the field for a few minutes before taking flight.
"It went great," said Sallinger, who warned the crowd in advance that if the eagle didn't take off immediately, nothing was wrong.
Sometimes, he said, the birds like to get a feel for their surroundings before flying.
"She'll build up her stamina over time," he added. "She's night and day from when she came in."
Aaron VanTuyl covers education and religion for The Chronicle. He may be reached at 807-8237 or by e-mail at avantuyl@chronline.com.

Hot Art

2008-04-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

Volcano Summit June 2007

2008-04-22T18:40:00.001-07:00

The 2008 Southwest Washington Fair is Aug. 12-17

2008-04-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

Eloy Perez

2008-04-09T00:48:00.000-07:00

Eloy Perez, 19, works to finish high school while preparing for his first professional six-round bout the night after graduation. 2006

Hammock Trial

2008-02-12T16:42:00.001-08:00

Images from the trial of Gordon Hammock for the murder of William Ford.Images from the trial of Gordon Hammock for the murder of William Ford.

Ford Map

2008-02-12T15:38:00.001-08:00

An interactive map with slideshows following the murder of William Ford and the subsequent trial of Gordon Hammock.

Body of William Ford Found Along Avery Road

2008-02-12T15:15:00.001-08:00

The body of William Ford was discovered behind a vacant home along Avery Road.

Russell Road Ford Murder

2008-02-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

William Ford was killed inside the residence of Gordon Hammock on Russell Road in Centralia.

White Pass Football Camp 2007

2008-02-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

The Panther football squad gathers for a three-day trainning camp prior to the start of their season every year. By Nick George/The Chronicle The Panther football squad gathers for a three-day training camp prior to the start of their season every year. By Nick George/The Chronicle

China

2008-02-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

Images from China taken while traveling with the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce in March of 2007.Images from China taken while traveling with the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce in March of 2007. By Nick George/The Chronicle