Friday, 18 December 2015

RE: [Maine-birds] "Cross-billed" Eagle

David, we had this eagle here at Avian Haven.  You are correct that she was euthanized and her remains tested for contaminants.  A report can be found at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/mainecontaminants/pdf/ME%20Crossbill%20BAEA%20Report_Final.pdf 

Diane Winn

 

From: maine-birds@googlegroups.com [mailto:maine-birds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of David Gulick
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 8:21 PM
To: Maine Birds
Subject: [Maine-birds] "Cross-billed" Eagle

 

Several years ago there was a young bald eagle obscured in the dune grass at Scarborough beach. It was a nice day. There were lots of people walking on the beach. There was a policeman standing on the beach at the edge of the dune grass. I stopped and asked him what he was doing. He said that he was guarding this big bird that reportedly had "fallen out of the sky".

 

That bird had a severely twisted bill. It almost never raised its head off the carcass in the grass so it took me some time to glimpse the deformity. It was oblivious to people on the beach. 

 

I reported it to a local bird rescue organization. I heard it was captured later that day and that the decision was ultimately made, I believe by state wildlife biologists(?), to euthanize the bird. Not taken lightly I am sure. 

 

If anyone knows more about that bird and the decision I would love to hear about it. Also, there must have been pictures taken. Anyone? 

 

I assume people must have already submitted reports. Perhaps to the group in Alaska that is studying bill deformities (mentioned by Ken Janes). If not, I will gladly gather information and photos and report it to interested parties.

 


Sent from my iPhone (forgive the typos)


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