Carolina Raptor Center - Eagle Journeys

Eagle Journeys

For years resident eagles have produced eggs at Carolina Raptor Center. The current residents in the Betty J. & J. Stanley Livingstone eagle aviary have laid eggs for many years. None of these eggs hatched until March 2006, when during her feeding rounds, one of our volunteers discovered a small ball of fluff. The first bald eaglet hatched out on March 4th followed by the second on March 5th, 2006. We now have a third eaglet that was hatched on March 9,2008. The following stories and videos will tell their stories. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

»For eaglet videos, click here.

»Our Newest Arrival Meet our 2008 Eaglet.

»Follow the eagles journeys! Click here for maps.

How Did the Eagles Get Their Names?

The volunteer corps of over 200 individuals participates in almost every activity along with the staff. So, it's a pleasure when we can provide our volunteers and those that are special to us with a gift. Providing dedicated volunteers with the right to name resident birds has been a long standing tradition at Carolina Raptor Center. Many of our resident birds are name in honor or memory of those we love. The eagles residing at Carolina Raptor Center are just one example.

Derek is named after a very special boy that visited Carolina Raptor Center on many occasions. Derek Hageman loved raptors and could name almost every raptor. He pointed them out to his parents and would tell his classmates stories about the birds. When Derek passed away at the age of nine, Carolina Raptor Center became a place of remembrance for his family. His mother volunteered at CRC as she was learning to deal with her loss. We held a memorial service at Derek's school and released a rehabilitated hawk as symbolic of Derek's spirit beginning a new journey. Derek was a special boy and it was a wonderful tribute to name one of our resident eagles after him. Derek, the eagle, is the father of the two eaglets that were born at Carolina Raptor Center on March 4th and 5th, 2006 as well as the eaglet born on March 9, 2008.

Derek, the eagle was sent to us by the South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey in Charleston, SC. He was found in December of 1995. It is suspected he was shot. His injury consisted of a fractured left tibiotarsus, stiff right wrist, old fracture right radius & ulna. Derek arrived at Carolina Raptor Center on 24 August, 1998. He was at least seven years old at that time.

Savannah was transferred to us by the South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey from Charleston, SC. She was found injured in April of 1995. Although no other information is available on her injuries, we suspect a collision of some sort. Her injuries include:

Fracture to left radius & ulna, stiff elbow and wrist.

Savannah arrived at Carolina Raptor Center on 24 August, 1998 and was at least seven years old at that time. She laid eggs for the first time in 2004. Her eggs hatched for the first time in March of 2006. She and Derek cared for the two eaglets, the first bald eagles born in captivity in NC.

Len - The male eaglet was named after former volunteer Len Chason. Len spent his professional career at Hoerst Celanese. Len's son, Chip, said, "We are so grateful that Carolina Raptor Center provided a place for dad to have a second career." Len cut the grass at the Betty J. & J. Stanley Livingstone eagle aviary, helped set up the Christmas show and assisted with lots of other maintenance challenges. When there was no lawn mower, Len donated one that he wasn't using at home. He'd spend thirty minutes fixing it before each grass cutting. Len also trimmed the trees in the eagle aviary until one day when he lost his balance and fell off the ladder. We had to watch him closely because he wanted to do everything. Len had so much energy and kept acting like he was a teenager. He loved what he was doing at Carolina Raptor Center and gave us lots of stories to laugh about.

Len was diagnosed with cancer during the winter of 2006. He was homebound for all of March. President/CEO Alan Barnhardt said, "We talked about Carolina Raptor Center and about the baby eagles that were born on March 4th and 5th. I showed him some videos of the babies. Len cared for the aviary for years and I imagine he thought of the eagles as his children. So when he saw Savannah and Derek's babies, he must have been as proud as a grandfather." Len passed away on March 15, 2006 shortly after the birth of the eaglets. Len was a great friend. Many volunteers and staff members will be telling Len stories for years to come. We'll laugh as we remember his antics and jokes. We'll also remember his hard work and all he gave us.

Lola Brown-Sen Gupta Lola - Carolina Raptor Center had come to know Lola over the last twelve years as a dedicated and wonderful volunteer. Volunteer Larry said, "I could always tell when Lola was here. The whole building would be smiling." Lola had that effect on people.

Lola also had an impact on thousands of injured birds. Her professional career as a medical technician grounded her in a study of human blood and fluids. She could recognize parasites, viruses, white blood cells and other indicators in human blood. Her vast knowledge of medical research and blood-borne pathogens was new to Carolina Raptor Center in the early 1990s. Lola figured out ways to apply that knowledge to the birds. Director of Rehabilitation Mathias Engelmann said, "It was a regular occurrence to hear Lola talk about the effectiveness of certain antibiotics as she reviewed blood samples under a microscope." We feel that our highly successful treatment and release program is directly related to all the knowledge that Lola brought to Carolina Raptor Center. Lola not only pioneered new research and treatment methods, but she left her legacy by teaching staff and volunteers what she learned."

Lola Brown Sen Gupta passed away on October 9th, 2006 after a valiant fight against cancer. "Lola meant so much to us and her medical knowledge helped so many birds. We felt it fitting that the female eagle should be named in her memory", said President/CEO Barnhardt.

As a further tribute to Lola, the Sen Gupta - Brown family named Carolina Raptor Center as a recipient for memorials. They also decided to purchase equipment to improve the medical care for patients. Mathias Engelmann said, "This new equipment will allow us to expand the educational opportunities to other rehabilitators, veterinary students and biologists." We are honored to remember Lola as one of our family members and to be able to honor her memory through these wonderful gifts.

Meet the newest addition to our eagle family!

In the late evening hours of Friday March 7 and Saturday March 8, a quiet little miracle occurred just north of Charlotte, NC. Peeping and chirping, a bald eagle egg began to break open and fall apart as Carolina Raptor Center welcomed a baby eaglet into the world.

Over the last several years, four eaglets hatched in captivity in North Carolina were also hatched at Carolina Raptor Center. “This eaglet, only weeks old, is only the fifth individual to have hatched in captivity in all of North Carolina,” said Carolina Raptor Center’s Interim CEO Jim Warren. A sixth eaglet did hatch, however due to physical challenges it did not survive.

A visual barrier was placed around a the nest area in the eagle aviary to prevent the eaglet from becoming habituated to humans. An observation blind was be constructed so that staff could monitor the eaglet, with minimal disturbance to the nest.

On Monday, April 21st, the eaglet was moved to their new home for the next stage of their development. Carolina Raptor Center is working in partnership with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation to provide the secure site in North Mecklenburg, where there are nearly 2,700 acres of nature preserves protected by Mecklenburg County along the lake. The proximity to the water will provide critical foraging and roosting opportunities for the eaglet as well as resident bald eagles, ospreys and other wildlife species.

The eaglet is now ready to be separated from its parents, according to Jim Warren, Interim President and CEO. “Our staff will be feeding this bird daily for the next several weeks, from a specially-designed food hatch that will allow us to slide the food, unseen, into the nest. We will keep the eaglet secured in the nest until it is time to open the gates so the young bird can try out its wings, and practice hunting on its own.” Additionally, Carolina Raptor Center has installed a special camera in the hack tower to monitor the progress of the eaglet. “Education is vital to Carolina Raptor Center,” said Warren. “Not only will we be able to learn more about the growth and development of these raptors, but we will be able to share the information with others.” Visitors to Carolina Raptor Center will be able to view updated photographs and video clips of the eaglet in the Visitor Center.

Letha - This female eaglet was named in memory of staff member Letha Fields. Letha had been a part of the Visitor Services team for more than ten years. Carol Robinson, CRC Visitor Services Manager said “Letha always made everyone feel welcome. Her smile and positive nature were contagious.” The sweet treats that she brought on a regular basis were greatly appreciated. Letha was known to all the staff and volunteers as someone who would help at a moments notice. Another staff member Karen Carter, said that “Letha always made our visitors feel that they were the only ones here. Letha had cut back on her time at Carolina Raptor Center to help care for several family members. Letha passed away on April 23, 2008. Letha was a person. Many volunteers and staff members will be sharing Letha stories for years to come. The world is truly a better place because of Letha Fields.

All pictures taken by Shari Lambeth, Volunteer Photographer

Where do baby eagles go?

The parents raise the eaglet in the aviary. This ensures that the young bird will properly imprint on its parents, visual barriers are added so the parents would have less disturbance while caring for the young. This also limits the chance of habituation which means that the baby bird would become accustomed to seeing humans and not be afraid of them. This would be dangerous for both humans and the eagle.

At 5-6 weeks of age the young eagle is removed and relocated to an artificial nest (hack tower). Young birds are often released (or “hacked out”) in groups, so that younger birds can observe and learn from slightly older birds.

Carolina Raptor Center notifies US Fish and Wildlife Service and then uses the hack tower constructed in 2006 (for Len and Lola) to release the bird. The young bird will be placed into this artificial nest and fed remotely until it is old enough to start making flights at 12 weeks. It can return to the “nest” for food and security until independent. It’s instincts will tell him/her how to hunt for fish, but it will need practice to hone its skills. Besides eagles, the tower has also been used for “hacking” Ospreys.