Urbandale HY21 bald eagle

A bald eagle nest in Urbandale, Iowa, is closely monitored (and has a livestream camera) by human neighbors. SOAR was alerted by nearby homeowners that one of the two eaglets may need assistance.

On 10 June 2021, SOAR volunteer Deb traveled to the location and reported that both eaglets were fully feathered. One was perching nicely in the nest. The other hatch-year 2021 (HY21) bald eagle was noted by Deb as looking “bedraggled” and did not have appropriate “eagley responses” (did not show a defensive posture, did not try to get away) when approached. Volunteer Deb did rescue this eaglet. At rescue, Deb reported that the eaglet felt thin.

Kay, SOAR executive director, is holding this hatch-year 2021 (HY21) eaglet in preparation for blood to be drawn for a blood lead test.

Once this eaglet was at SOAR, a thorough exam was conducted, including a blood lead test. This eaglet has a “LOW” blood lead level, that is good. She already weighs 10.5 pounds and feels thin. She does not have a typical young eagle appetite. She is eating, but not voracious as would be expected of an eagle this age. She has given wormer medication (standard procedure) and spent a few days in intensive care. As a precaution, she was started on antibiotics as a low level infection is suspected.

This eaglet has been moved to a 10×20 flight pen to encourage movement and exercise, but has no interest in flying.  Once the round of antibiotics are completed, she will be wormed again.

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Urbandale hatch-year 2021 bald eagle.