Pacific Wildlife Care is celebrating the successful release of a bald eagle, after some 8 months of rehabilitation. Eagle No. 23, as its wing tag shows, was emaciated and suffering from cuts to her legs when she was brought to PWC’s rehab center on March 22 by a State Fish & Wildlife game warden. On June 10, she was taken to a 75-foot flight cage at the rural Cayucos home of Art and Kelly Vandenheuvel. She’s been rehabbing birds — mainly raptors — for about 30 years. According to PWC President, Meg Crockett, No. 23 was hatched in 2004 in the San Francisco Zoo’s captive breeding program that was active from 1996-07, and was released on Santa Cruz Island offshore from Oxnard, along with about 100 other eagles. Twenty-three has drifted a long ways from home. ‘She appeared at Fort Hunter Liggett in 2009,’ Crockett said, ‘and had her first two chicks in 2010. She has produced two chicks every year since including this year according to the biologist, who also claims another female raised this year’s chicks.’ And now thanks to PWC volunteers, No. 23 is again soaring over the wilds of SLO County’s backcountry. See: www.pacificwildlifecare.org to donate to the organization and to volunteer. Photos courtesy Pacific Wildlife Care.
