FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday,
December 11, 2004
AMERICAN EAGLE FOUNDATION, TWRA, SENATOR FRIST, SENATOR ALEXANDER AND
CONGRESSMAN JENKINS RELEASE TWO REHABILITATED BALD EAGLES ON NASHVILLE'S
CUMBERLAND RIVER
NASHVILLE,
Tenn. -- As Christmas fast approaches, the American Eagle Foundation
(AEF), Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), Senator Bill Frist
(R-TN), Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Congressman Bill Jenkins
are giving the gift of freedom to two rehabilitated bald eagles named "America" and "Patriot." The
birds were released on Saturday morning, December 11th, on the Cumberland
River near Nashville.
"We are honored that Senator Frist, Senator Alexander, Congressman
Jenkins, TWRA's Executive Director Gary Myers and others have joined
us to release these two majestic eagles into the wild and celebrate our
nation's precious freedoms," said AEF President Al Cecere. "I
can't think of a better Christmas gift to give these birds and the U.S.A."
Both bald
eagles were injured in the middle Tennessee area earlier this year
and brought to the AEF's birds of prey center at Dollywood in Pigeon
Forge, Tenn. for rehabilitation. The adult eagle, "America," was
probably struck by lightening according to veterinarians, while the immature
eagle, "Patriot," was blown from a nest in a storm and found
emaciated.
The
eagles were in critical condition when found and rescued by TWRA officers.
They were admitted to two separate middle Tennessee bird rehab centers
(Walden's Puddle and Harmony Wildlife) for initial emergency treatment
before being transferred to the AEF for additional care and final recovery.
They were released on property owned by former TWRA commissioner Ray
Bell (of Ray Bell Construction).
"The release of these beautiful eagles simply renews our commitment
to the noble cause of protecting them, which embodies the freedom, spirit
and democracy all Americans value and enjoy," said Cecere.
This year,
at the AEF's request, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Congressman
Bill Jenkins (R-TN) sponsored and introduced "Bald Eagle
Commemorative Coin Act" legislation in the U.S. Congress (S. 2889
and H.R. 4116 respectively). The Senate and House passed the bill by
unanimous consent on the last two days of the 108th Congress.
When
signed into law by the President this month, the legislation will authorize
the U.S. Mint to create and market a special gold, silver and clad
commemorative coin set in 2008 celebrating the recovery of the bald
eagle to the U.S.A's lands, waterways and skies.
Senator
Bill Frist (R-TN), Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Congressman Harold
Ford (D-TN), Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), Congressman Bart Gordon
(D-TN), members of the Tennessee congressional delegation and others
were actively involved in supporting the bill and working behind the
scenes to assure its passage during the 108th Congress.
When sold out, the proposed eagle-themed coin set has the potential to generate
approximately $10 million, which would be placed in an AEF-managed endowment
that would aid private, state and federal eagle monitoring and protection
programs nationwide.
AEF President
Al Cecere, his staff and the trained bald eagle "Challenger" recently
visited 100 U.S Senate offices to educate elected representatives and
their staffs about bald eagles, and garner support for the legislation.
More than 40 senators met directly with the AEF and 70 agreed to co-sponsor
the bill. Earlier in the year, visits were made to numerous Congressional
representatives in the House, and 300 signed on as co-sponsors.
During
the Christmas holiday season, the AEF is encouraging the general public
to "Give America the Gift of Eagles" in
honor of a special friend, relative or armed forces member by participating
in its Adopt-An-Eagle program. A non-releasable eagle ($250 donation)
or breeding pair of eagles ($500 donation) cared for by the eagle preservation
group may be adopted for one year. Sponsors receive a letter, bio and
photo relating to their adopted bird. For more information, visit the
AEF's www.eagles.org website.
Over the
past 18 years, the not-for-profit American Eagle Foundation has become
widely recognized as a national non-governmental leader in bald eagle
conservation, recovery and public environmental education. Established
in 1985, the Federal and State licensed organization operates the world's
largest bald eagle exhibit and breeding facility at
its Dollywood based headquarters, where many of its resident non-releasable
eagles have successfully reproduced in captivity.
The
AEF is dedicated to the recovery and protection of bald eagles and their
habitat. It has educated millions of people, captive-hatched dozens of
bald and golden eaglets, and rehabilitated numerous injured eagles and
other birds of prey.
Since 1985,
the AEF has contributed to releasing a majority of the 294 bald eaglets
from seven Tennessee hacking sites in cooperation with the TWRA and
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Since 1992, the organization
has released 80 captive-hatched eaglets into the foothills of the Great
Smoky Mountains area.
The AEF
was selected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to participate
on its
Southeastern Bald Eagle Recovery Team. It provides daily, year-round care to
more than 70
non-releasable
North American birds of prey, including 35 bald and golden eagles,
and has supported various public education and eagle projects in a
number of States.
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