There is a group here in Anchorage called Bird Training and Learning Center (Bird TLC is how it's generally referred) who rescues, rehabilitates, and if possible releases birds who have been injured. Most of these are raptors, but I'm not sure if they rescue other birds as well. On this particular day, they were releasing a bald eagle they rehabilitated from Eagle River Nature Center and invited the public to watch. They first did an educational presentation with one of their non-releasable eagles and then brought the eagle to be released out to the spot where we all were. Pretty neat experience, and some neat photos to go with it!
The first several shots are from the educational presentation.
Can you imagine being this relaxed with an eagle's beak mere inches from your face?
They seem to have come to an agreement that they'll both be nice to each other and no one will get hurt. :)
Now it's time to release the eagle they have rehabilitated... The men on either side of the box won an auction to be able to actually release the bird. Getting ready... counting down...
Open sesame!
I'm FREE!!
He actually didn't go far at all... he found a tree stump (a very tall one) to land on and check out the situation. He sat there for several minutes before flying on. They said that his tail feathers are in the process of growing back in (of course I can't remember the story on how they were damaged... maybe if I did this post right after we saw this I'd have remembered!).
He's fluffed!
Checking out the stream below...
Getting ready to take off! Happy freedom, eagle!
I also got a few scenic shots at the Nature Center that day... you can see that there is still plenty of snow remaining on the mountains from our awesome winter!
I love reflections...
Chiming Bells
And probably one of the best known parts of Eagle River Nature Center... the hollow tree that you can stand in. It's very cool... I've yet to get a decent photo with someone inside though. Lighting just never seems to work for me.
