Two New Bald Eagles Arrive at Grandfather Mountain, Online Christening Contest Starts April 5
Published Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 9:47 am
March 28, 2013. Grandfather Mountain is happy to announce two new additions to the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats: two bald eagles. The currently unnamed raptors will be christening a brand new eagle habitat, slated for completion in the coming weeks, and will also be the subject of an upcoming naming contest.
The two bald eagles are a pair of male and female birds acquired from the Nebraska Raptor Recovery Center. Both animals were injured in the wild and deemed unfit for release because of their inability to hunt and survive on their own.
The male eagle, originally rescued from an area near Columbus, Nebraska, sustained a head and eye injury. He lost his right eye and has some neurological damage. The female was originally hospitalized due to lead poisoning and is blind in her left eye, though the two ailments seem to be unrelated.
The eagles are currently being held off-display at The Plaza, a relatively new recovery facility in the rear of the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats, awaiting the completion of the new eagle habitat.
An online naming competition will kick off April 5 in which the public can submit name ideas for the two eagles along with a one-dollar donation onwww.grandfather.com. Submissions will be due by April 22. Habitat staff will select the two winning names and the winners will receive a pass for four to Grandfather Mountain as well as a complimentary Behind the Scenes Tour for their group. The new names will be announced in late April when the Eagles move into the new eagle habitat.
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park sustainably in the public interest, provide an exceptional experience for guests, and inspire them to be good stewards of the earth's resources.
For more information about Grandfather Mountain, the new bald eagles, the naming contest and the eagle habitat renovation, please visit www.grandfather.com or call 800-468-7325.
Grandfather's new bald eagles are from the Nebraska Raptor Recovery Center where they were deemed to be unable to survive in the wild. The male (on perch) and female (on ground) eagle are temporary being housed at The Plaza, an off-display location behind the Animal Habitats, while the eagle habitat renovations are being finished. (Photo by Taylor Adams)
The new female bald eagle at Grandfather Mountain in a spring snowstorm. A naming contest will begin for the male and female April 5 onwww.grandfather.com. (Photo by Taylor Adams)
The new male bald eagle acclimates himself to his new home at Grandfather Mountain. Both of the eagles are able to fly but the male is missing his right eye and the female is blind in her left eye. (Photo by Landis Wofford)
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