Eagle hit by jet likely won't be released

CASTALIA — After nearly a year of rehab, a bald eagle that was clipped by a jet at the Erie-Ottawa Regional Airport likely will not recover enough to be released into the wild.

Instead, the female eagle will be a wildlife ambassador at Back to the Wild, the non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center in Castalia where she was taken after her run-in with the plane, said Heather Yount, center staff supervisor.

Her role will be to help educate people about eagles and their place in the ecosystem. Back to the Wild plays host to school groups to help educate students about wild animals, and staff regularly attend wildlife-oriented events.

“It breaks our hearts that she probably won’t be released,” Yount said. “She was a fighter. She wanted it.

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Shot rare bird sent to Sicily for rehabilitation

A Pallid Harrier, one of Europe's rarest birds, will be sent to a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Sicily after it was shot in Gozo on the 8 September, BirdLife Malta said.

The Pallid Harrier is a rare visitor to Malta and is considered to be one of the most threatened birds of prey in Europe.

The juvenile Pallid Harrier was seen being shot by a member of the public in Gozo who gave the injured bird to BirdLife. A veterinary surgeon examined the protected bird and diagnosed a fracture to its right wing.

"Luckily, the injury was not fatal and with proper treatment this bird is expected to make a full recovery. Malta to date does not have the rehabilitation facilities to care for wild birds with these kinds of injuries," said Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Malta Conservation Manager.


Watch video and read on:http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Shot-rare-bird-sent-to-Sicily-for-rehabilitation-20120919


More information on pallid harrier (Circus macrourus):


http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=030085


http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3409