Met a big ol' gal on Tuesday!

[JW_Halverson]

Typically, a golden eagle will be bigger than the bald eagles.  Typically.  But some of these birds do not read the book that the ornithologists write and they, consequently, break some rules. Judging by the amount of white in her head and tail, I am guessing a 3 yr old bird.

I hauled this girl across the state to deliver her to the nearest rehabilitator.  Uninjured, but showing signs of acute lead poisoning, confirmed by blood tests and an xray shows bullet fragments in the crop. It was further confirmed when gastric lavage flushed fragments of copper and lead, both.  Good chance this bird will respond well to chelation therapy and could be back in the wild again in a month or two. 

I wish I had taken pics of her feet...bloody HUUUGE meat hooks!

[Aaron H]

Beautiful bird!

[Swampman]

That is abeautiful bird.  I see bald eagles every day but the other day on my drive along the Mississippi River I saw a Golden Eagle sitting in a tree.  The one I saw was bigger than the bald eagles. It was an impressive rare sight for this area.  I was pretty excited.

I hope that bird recovers quickly. 

[DuBois]

WOW! That's amazing.

You're a good man JW.

[mullet]

Cool bird but doesn't have a beard. And they should know to swallow the good stuff and regurgitate the bad, heavy stuff.

[Tom W]

Good on you JW!

[osage outlaw]

Cool looking bird.  I've been watching the live bald eagle camera.  It's interesting to watch them care for their babies.

[stickbender]

     Beauty!  About a month ago, I was taking my Buddy's wife to the airport in Missoula, and on the way, we saw the BIGGEST Bald Eagle I have ever seen!  There are a lot of bald, and golden eagles out here, but this bald eagle was as big, or bigger than a golden!  Most of the Golden Eagles out here are pretty big, and much larger than the Bald Eagles, but this one would match any Golden!  Huge wing span!  Glad to hear that they do Chelation on birds also.  I am doing that, and now on a maintenance schedule, I go in tomorrow for hydrogen peroxide iv, to clear up some congestion, in my chest, then back to chelation.  That is a beautiful bird there.  How did you come by her?
                                    Wayne

[Del the cat]

Woo, very commanding stare!
Del

[joachimM]

That 's some good work you're doing there! Thumbs up from me.

[chamookman]

Way cool JDub ! Bob

[Pappy]

Beautiful bird JW.
 Pappy

[YosemiteBen]

Good Work JW. I have seen them here in the park. They are beautiful!

[Ranasp]

Wow, gorgeous bird!  Also what a stink eye she has! 

[Urufu_Shinjiro]

what a stink eye she has!

Nah, she just has Resting Bitc...I mean Bird Face...