PEI·Photos

'I thought I would cry': Rescued eagle released

An eagle found a year ago emaciated and weak has recovered and was released in Grand River, P.E.I. Wednesday with the help of The Atlantic Veterinary College and the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

'It was really special. I guess I have a heart for eagles.'

The released eagle starts to fly away. (Submitted by Fiep de Bie)

An eagle found a year ago emaciated and weak has recovered and was released in Grand River, P.E.I. Wednesday with the help of The Atlantic Veterinary College and the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. 

Nathan DesRoches found the bird, which had difficulty flying, near his home. He found the eagle because he had been photographing its parents and their eaglets for three years.

Nathan DesRoches gets ready to release the recovered eagle that he found emaciated one year ago. (Submitted by Nathan DesRoches )
It was really special. I guess I have a heart for eagles.- Nathan DesRoches

DesRoches and some clients that he works with from Community Connections, a day service in Summerside for people with disabilities were at the release.

"I thought I would cry to be honest with you," said DesRoches. 

Nathan DesRoches releasing the emaciated eagle he found one year ago in Grand River, P.E.I. Wednesday. (Submitted by Nathan DesRoches)

The clients knew about or were there when the bird was rescued and have been following its progress back to health.

Eagle gained strength to fly

"It was really special. I guess I have a heart for eagles," said DesRoches. 

The juvenile eagle scans his surroundings from high in a tree after being released in Grand River, P.E.I. (Submitted by Nathan DesRoches)

The eagle had been very timid and kept its head down when found. Because of this behavior, it was tested for lead poisoning, but the test was negative. 

The released eagle perches in a tree on P.E.I. (Submitted by Fiep de Bie)

The bird spent several weeks at the Atlantic Veterinary College before being sent to Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Nova Scotia where it gained flight muscle strength.