Liberty and Justice, American Bald Eagles

Liberty and Justice are cared for by the non-profit American Eagle Foundation (formerly named National Foundation to Protect America's Eagles), headquartered at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. They have lived at the Foundation facility for a number of years now, but became a bonded pair in 1993.

Liberty

Liberty, the female eagle, can only see out of her left eye due to a gunshot injury. It is believed that a shotgun pellet hit her right eye, leaving her blind on that side. With only one eye, Liberty is not able to judge distances very well. Therefore, she is unable to catch "live" prey and is permanently non-releasable. Eagles are predators that are very dependent on being able to see in three dimensions.

Justice

Justice, the male eagle, was found with shotgun pellets in his left foot and one of his wings. Due to this gunshot injury, he cannot fly or grab food well enough to survive in the wild. The feet and talons of an eagle are essential in capturing fish. If a taloned foot cannot tightly grab and hold on to "live" prey, the eagle could have difficulty catching, killing, and/or carrying its food.

Raising a Family

Liberty and Justice bonded as mates in 1993. They are both very good parents, but their family life had a difficult beginning.

In 1994, Liberty laid two eggs, one of which was fertile. They successfully incubated the eggs and diligently cared for the youngster that hatched. The eaglet was about five weeks old when a terrible thunderstorm came through the area. A bolt of lightening struck their nest, killing the eaglet. Thankfully though, Liberty and Justice escaped being harmed themselves.

1995 was not a better nesting experience for the young couple. They successfully produced and raised two very healthy eaglets, but once again misfortune took the lives of their youngsters. At seven weeks of age, only one week before the eaglets would have been transferred to a hack tower for release into the wild, a severe summer heat wave hit Pigeon Forge and other parts of the country. Temperatures reached unusual and abnormal levels. The eaglets overheated and died in their nest. A number of humans also lost their lives as a result of the same summer heat wave.

With such tragedy behind them, family life has looked much better for Liberty and Justice. In 1996, they produced two healthy eaglets. In 1997, one eaglet was hatched and released out of two eggs. In 1998, two eaglets were raised and released and in 1999 they had triplets! These were the first first captive-hatched bald eagle triplets in Tennessee history, and all lived to take their first freedom flight. Liberty and Justice produced two young during 2000, one during each of 2002, 2003, and 2004. Through 2004, they had reared a total of thirteen eaglets. During 2005, they laid three eggs, but unfortunately all three were confirmed infertile. The three infertile eggs were promptly replaced with a 4-week old bald eaglet from the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo & Aquarium (www.columbuszoo.org). Liberty and Justice became foster parents until the eaglet could reach about six weeks age. At about six weeks age, all eaglets are transferred to an artificial nest at our Douglas Lake hack site near Dandridge, Tennessee, where they gradually adapt to typical eagle habitat. They are released into the wild at 12 - 13 weeks age. Hopefully, 2006 will be another great year, as can be seen on our live eagle nest cam at www.eagles.org/eaglecam.htm.

You Can Adopt Liberty & Justice (Click Here)

You Can Visit Their Nest Via "Live" Video Cam (Click Here)


	©American Eagle Foundation International rights reserved
	Liberty and Justice are cared for by the non-profit American Eagle Foundation (formerly named National Foundation to Protect America's Eagles), headquartered at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. They have lived at the Foundation facility for a number of years now, but became a bonded pair in 1993. Liberty Liberty, the female eagle, can only see out of her left eye due to a gunshot injury. It is believed that a shotgun pellet hit her right eye, leaving her blind on that side. With only one eye, Liberty is not able to judge distances very well. Therefore, she is unable to catch "live" prey and is permanently non-releasable. Eagles are predators that are very dependent on being able to see in three dimensions. Justice Justice, the male eagle, was found with shotgun pellets in his left foot and one of his wings. Due to this gunshot injury, he cannot fly or grab food well enough to survive in the wild. The feet and talons of an eagle are essential in capturing fish. If a taloned foot cannot tightly grab and hold on to "live" prey, the eagle could have difficulty catching, killing, and/or carrying its food. Raising a Family Liberty and Justice bonded as mates in 1993. They are both very good parents, but their family life had a difficult beginning. In 1994, Liberty laid two eggs, one of which was fertile. They successfully incubated the eggs and diligently cared for the youngster that hatched. The eaglet was about five weeks old when a terrible thunderstorm came through the area. A bolt of lightening struck their nest, killing the eaglet. Thankfully though, Liberty and Justice escaped being harmed themselves. 1995 was not a better nesting experience for the young couple. They successfully produced and raised two very healthy eaglets, but once again misfortune took the lives of their youngsters. At seven weeks of age, only one week before the eaglets would have been transferred to a hack tower for release into the wild, a severe summer heat wave hit Pigeon Forge and other parts of the country. Temperatures reached unusual and abnormal levels. The eaglets overheated and died in their nest. A number of humans also lost their lives as a result of the same summer heat wave. With such tragedy behind them, family life has looked much better for Liberty and Justice. In 1996, they produced two healthy eaglets. In 1997, one eaglet was hatched and released out of two eggs. In 1998, two eaglets were raised and released and in 1999 they had triplets! These were the first first captive-hatched bald eagle triplets in Tennessee history, and all lived to take their first freedom flight. Liberty and Justice produced two young during 2000, one during each of 2002, 2003, and 2004. Through 2004, they had reared a total of thirteen eaglets. During 2005, they laid three eggs, but unfortunately all three were confirmed infertile. The three infertile eggs were promptly replaced with a 4-week old bald eaglet from the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo & Aquarium (www.columbuszoo.org). Liberty and Justice became foster parents until the eaglet could reach about six weeks age. At about six weeks age, all eaglets are transferred to an artificial nest at our Douglas Lake hack site near Dandridge, Tennessee, where they gradually adapt to typical eagle habitat. They are released into the wild at 12 - 13 weeks age. Hopefully, 2006 will be another great year, as can be seen on our live eagle nest cam at www.eagles.org/eaglecam.htm. You Can Adopt Liberty & Justice (Click Here) You Can Visit Their Nest Via "Live" Video Cam (Click Here)