Bald Eagle Takes Up Residency At Lindsay Wildlife!

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA – Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek is excited to announce that an American bald eagle is now calling Lindsay home!

This 13-year-old bald eagle arrived Dec. 6 at Lindsay from World Bird Sanctuary in Missouri.

Now this California girl resides in an aviary onsite at Lindsay and will start public programs in early 2017 —
Lindsay is one of the few centers in the Bay Area to have an ambassador representing the national bird.

With an injured right wing, the eagle was found in the bottom of a ravine in Wisconsin in 2003. A windstorm destroyed the nest two weeks before the young eagle was found in the ravine by rescuers, according to medical records. At the time, it was evident the adult eagles were dropping food to the chick in the ravine, but her right wing was broken, likely in the fall weeks earlier, making her unable to fly. Due to the narrow ravine and delay in finding the young eagle, her wing healed improperly so she could not be released back into the wild.

For nearly her entire life she has she lived on exhibit at World Bird Sanctuary and was trained for handling on glove for public presentations—just as she will soon do at Lindsay.

“We are very excited to welcome this bald eagle to Lindsay,” said Lindsay Director of Animal Encounters Dawn Manley. “This is the first bald eagle to be added to the collection since the passing of Sentinel, our last and long-time resident bald eagle ambassador. Eagles are a very popular species for our visitors due to their size, beauty and importance in the environment.”

Bald eagles were close to extinction 30 years ago in the U.S. and have made a remarkable comeback.

The new bald eagle is just over eight pounds, smaller than Lindsay’s golden eagle Topaz, who weighs in at more than 11 pounds and has lived at Lindsay since 2005.

“Our eagles not only serve as wonderful ambassadors and educators, they also help us send powerful conservation messages,” says Dr. Cheryl McCormick, executive director of Lindsay. “These extraordinary birds have sustained severe injuries that make them nonreleasable, and Lindsay has an obligation to speak out on their behalf and promote efforts to protect them.”

Lindsay will auction-off the naming rights to the eagle at the April 1, 2017 Faces of Wildlife Gala, an annual fundraiser for Lindsay held at Diablo Country Club. Tickets go on sale January 17, 2017.

Lindsay Wildlife Experience is located at 1931 First Ave. in Walnut Creek. For more information, visit lindsaywildlife.org

Also coming up in the area:

• Annual Holiday Boutique - Martinez Arts Association
• Holiday Tours at Galindo House Museum
• Live at Vinnies! Stand Up Comedy
• Pizza for Progress! Eat at Rocco's to help your community.

--Photos via Lindsay Wildlife Experience