Bald Eagle Rescue is a team effort

The Rescue | The Rehabilitation | The Eagles | The Release | Tracking | Eagle Facts

Bald Eagle Rescue is a team effort
The Whole Story in Pictures
Working together to save a group of Bald Eagles that had become mired in a large silt pit in Charles County, on May 7th, state and federal wildlife biologists came up with a unique way to rescue America’s symbols. Calling the United States Park Police in Washington and explaining their situation, the Park Police responded by dispatching their Bell 412 helicopter - call sign “Eagle 1," - to the scene where these dramatic photos were taken.

Four of seven immature Bald Eagles are seen after they became trapped in the 10-acre silt pit near the Potomac River. Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists and US Fish & Wildlife Service personnel were unable to use conventional methods to rescue the birds from the quicksand-like muck.

Sensing the birds were in imminent danger, the state and federal biologists contacted the United States Park Police, based in Washington D.C. who agreed to dispatch their Medivac helicopter “Eagle 1" to the scene, located approximately 35 miles southeast of Washington D.C. Here DNR Wildlife Biologist Bryan King (right) and Park Police Sgt. John Marsh recover the first of the eagles.

In an impressive display of airmanship, Park Police pilot Sgt. Ron Galey maneuvered the craft inches above the muck seven separate times to recover the eagles. Three of the majestic birds unfortunately had died by the time they were rescued.

Back on firm ground, DNR biologist Clif Horton takes one of the surviving birds off “Eagle 1.”

In this photo, Bryan King uses a pencil to clear the breathing passage of one of the four surviving eagles. Notice the blue membrane over the eye. This is a special eyelid that eagles have to protect their eyes.

Another Maryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service employee, David Heilmeier, places an Eagle in a box for transport to the Baltimore Zoo where the eagles recovered from their ordeal. Doctors at the zoo expect the four immature eagles, as well as a fifth adult eagle recovered from the pit the day after the dramatic rescue to recover fully.

(All photos by Tom Darden, Department of Natural Resources)

The Rescue | The Rehabilitation | The Eagles | The Release | Tracking | Eagle Facts
Last Updated May 29, 2002.

Four of seven immature Bald Eagles are seen after they became trapped in the 10-acre silt pit near the Potomac River. Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists and US Fish & Wildlife Service personnel were unable to use conventional methods to rescue the birds from the quicksand-like muck.
Sensing the birds were in imminent danger, the state and federal biologists contacted the United States Park Police, based in Washington D.C. who agreed to dispatch their Medivac helicopter “Eagle 1" to the scene, located approximately 35 miles southeast of Washington D.C. Here DNR Wildlife Biologist Bryan King (right) and Park Police Sgt. John Marsh recover the first of the eagles.
In an impressive display of airmanship, Park Police pilot Sgt. Ron Galey maneuvered the craft inches above the muck seven separate times to recover the eagles. Three of the majestic birds unfortunately had died by the time they were rescued.
Back on firm ground, DNR biologist Clif Horton takes one of the surviving birds off “Eagle 1.”
In this photo, Bryan King uses a pencil to clear the breathing passage of one of the four surviving eagles. Notice the blue membrane over the eye. This is a special eyelid that eagles have to protect their eyes.
Another Maryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service employee, David Heilmeier, places an Eagle in a box for transport to the Baltimore Zoo where the eagles recovered from their ordeal. Doctors at the zoo expect the four immature eagles, as well as a fifth adult eagle recovered from the pit the day after the dramatic rescue to recover fully.