5 August 2021 was a big day for bald eagles at SOAR! The hatch-year 2021 (HY21) bald eagles from Polk County Urbandale/DH7 and Saylor/56th place have moved to the 100 ft flight pen. Whew. They are zooming and with the low light conditions in the 100 ft flight pen, that makes it incredibly difficult to
An adult bald eagle that was transferred from Wildthunder W.A.R.S. for continued care and strength training in the 100′ flight pen was released on 4 August 2021. Kay reported that she “flew great.” Those two words are like music to a raptor rehabilitator’s ears!
Three hatch-year 2021 kestrels were released 25 July 2021! Kay described them as “little rockets.” To date, 20 hatch-year ’21 kestrels have been released!
Several bald eagles have showed their increased strength and stamina! These bald eagles have moved from 10×20′ flight rooms to the 20×60′ flight pen. Here the eagles have more room to stretch out and increase the length (in distance and time) in their flights. The two hatch-year 2021 bald eagles will also be socializing with
These two hatch-year 2021 great horned owls showed us how well they learned horned owl defensive posture and attitude. These two were released on 15 July 2021. Kay reported they both flew strong!
Two Polk County (IA) hatch-year 2021 (HY21) bald eagles needed rescue in mid-June – one from Urbandale and the other from Saylor Township. Both of the HY21 female eagles have moved to a 10×20 flight pen to continue their weight and strength training. Kay reports both of these youngsters have an improved appetite and that
At the end of June / first part of July, a Cooper’s hawk admitted from Shenandoah, Iowa was released. This Coops was an older hatch-year 2021 bird. In the same time frame, two more hatch-year 2021 Cooper’s hawks were admitted.
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
These two broad-winged hawks are now unintended siblings! One broad-winged hawk is from Prairie City and has puncture wounds on its little rump. The other broad-winged hawk nestling was found on the ground in Story County and no one could locate the nest. Youngsters at this developmental age should still be in a nest and
These two hatch-year 2021 American kestrels were found in Woodbury County after their nest tree was removed. There was no where safe for the nestlings.