Audubon Florida’s Center for Birds of Prey and State Senator Jen Bradley Release a Juvenile Bald Eagle at Alligator Lake in Lake City, FL

On a sunny afternoon in late October, a juvenile Bald Eagle soared back into Florida skies. State Senator Jennifer Bradley was on hand to release the eagle, and a crowd made up of homeschool students, Audubon staff, Audubon chapter members, and more applauded. 

This bird was rescued in coastal Lee County two days after fledging, as it suffered from an injured foot. After surgical treatment in Southwest Florida, the bird moved to Audubon’s Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland for rehabilitation and flight conditioning to prepare it for release. 

Now with a clean bill of health, this young male was ready to return to the skies. All brown now, he will molt into his iconic white head and tail between ages four and five; at that age, he will be ready to establish a territory and start a family of his own. He is marked with an aluminum band on his leg with a unique letter/number combination that is readable with binoculars, so that resights can be reported and we can keep tabs on his progress. 

Senator Bradley calmly took the bird from the Center for Birds of Prey staff, held him for ten seconds so he could re-acclimate to the sunlight after traveling with a special hood to keep him calm, then let the bird free. The eagle stood on the ground for only a moment before spreading his long wings and soaring into the air, over the crowd, and across the trees of Alligator Lake. The bird is the 823rd eagle rehabilitated and released by the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey since its founding in 1979. Giving this eagle a second chance also means ensuring he has healthy places to live. Florida Forever, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, and local land conservation programs help protect the forests, wetlands, and working lands that eagles and other wildlife need. Continued investment in these programs helps ensure that birds returned to the wild can find places to feed, nest, and raise their young. 

Audubon gives a shout out and a thank you to Columbia County for allowing this spectacular release at a beautiful local park.  

The Center focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation of Florida’s raptors through our onsite raptor hospital, educational outreach and community science. Volunteers from around Florida participate in Audubon’s EagleWatch nest monitoring program to help support the survival of this remarkable species. Learn how you can get involved here. 

Audubon Florida is the state’s oldest statewide conservation nonprofit, driving science-based solutions to the challenges facing Florida’s water, wildlife, and habitat in partnership with 44 community chapters across the state. In Columbia County, Four Rivers Audubon  is a leader in outdoor education, community conservation, and a proud partner with Columbia County on a native plant demonstration garden at Alligator Lake.