Baby Eaglets Born

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2004

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.- The old saying that a mother’s work is never done is proving to be true this Mother’s Day, but not just for moms of the human kind. “Liberty”, an American Bald Eagle cared for by the non-profit American Eagle Foundation (AEF) of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is keeping very busy these days tending to her newly hatched baby. The majestic bird, her mate “Justice” and their 12 day-old eaglet can be viewed online at the AEF’s website www.eagles.org via the Eagle Nest Cam link.

“Liberty’s devotion to her baby just goes to show that a mother’s instinct isn’t something that’s just shared between humans. Animals have it as well” said AEF President Al Cecere. “As Mother’s Day approaches this Sunday, our staff and three of our non-releasable mother eagles are celebrating the birth of four eaglets”.

To mark the occasion, conservation-minded individuals can honor their mothers through the AEF’s “Adopt an Eagle” program. One non-releasable eagle ($250 donation) or breeding pair of eagles ($500 donation) under the AEF’s care may be adopted for one year. A $35 membership supporting the AEF’s efforts makes another unique gift.

“This program is a special way to pay tribute to moms, while helping to further our work to secure the future of this magnificent bird,” Cecere said. “The birth of these new eaglets simply renews our commitment to this wonderful cause.”

“Liberty”, “Justice” and the other parent eagles at the AEF’s National Eagle Center take turns sharing the responsibility of caring for their tiny youngsters. The eaglets will be raised by their parents until they are about 6 weeks old. Then they will be removed from their parent’s nest and placed in an artificial nesting tower (hack tower) overlooking real Bald Eagle habitat on Douglas Lake in the foothills of tbe Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.

“Liberty is a prime example of the devotion these birds have for their young,” said Cecere, “We’re excited about the upcoming release of the eaglets, which will be one more step in our efforts to bring back the U.S.A.s majestic living symbol of Freedom.”

The nest of “Liberty” and “Justice” is at Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, a 35,000-square-foot aviary located on the Dollywood family adventure park. The nests of the other parent eagles, a Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle pair, are situated on the AEF’s private off-park facility. All four eaglets recently hatched will remain in the care of the AEF until they are released later this summer.

Liberty’s story will be featured on the “That’s My Baby” TV show on the Animal Planet Channel in early July 2004.

Two video cameras keep a close electronic eye on “Liberty”, “Justice” and their youngster. The eagles can be viewed over the Internet during daylight hours, Eastern Standard Time (USA). Video-streamed "live action" images are provided in "real time" through Microsoft Media Player.

Liberty, Justice and the other parent eagles live in captivity because they can no longer survive in the wild due to permanent physical disabilities caused by gunshots and other human caused injuries. However, the young that they hatch and rear are released into the wild to assist eagle repopulation efforts in the Southeastern United States.

Headquartered at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and home to more than 70 birds of prey, the AEF is widely recognized as a national leader in bald eagle conservation, recovery and public education. Established in 1985, the federally licensed organization operates the world’s largest bald eagle breeding facility and has released dozens of captive-hatched eaglets into the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains area since 1993. The AEF is dedicated to the care and protection of the bald eagle and its habitat and has educated millions of people, assisted in the release of hundreds of eaglets into the wild, and rehabilitated numerous injured eagles and other birds of prey.