Yesterday was quite a new experience for me. My neighbor came
over in the afternoon and said there was a eagle on the ground
and he walked within 6 feet of it.

He had been out looking for new species of flowers to ID when
he saw the bird. I was not sure what to do so I grabbed my
camera and went with him. The location was about 15 miles
South of Grand Coulee. When I saw the bird I took a deep
breath, it was a first year GOLDEN EAGLE. It was obvious that
it was sick and or starving. It staggered around and would not
fly. We came back home and I made a few calls and found out
that there is a Vet. in Oak that is a Rehabber.

We went back to the location armed with spray bottle (to cool
the bird), sugar water, (energy boost), a couple army
blankets, welding gloves, and some not-so-sticky electrical
tape to wrap the talons.

The area is quite wet and muddy and the first trip I was
sinking up to my knees in mud. When we got there the second
time and I located the eagle I grabbed a blanket and ran
across the mud and didn't sink in. Wow!---No I didn't try it
on water. As soon as the blanket went over the bird it didn't
move. We were able to wrap its feet, cool it down with the
spray bottle and gave it a good shot of sugar water with one
of those basting things. When we got it back home Sandy had
some strips of raw chicken ready and we had to poke them down.

I called one person who is a falconer and told him the
symptoms: Bad breath, fatty tissue in the throat, scaly
tongue, two lumps under the lower mandible and the breast bone
was very protruded. He said it sounded like "frounce". When we
got the bird to the vet. in Omak she took a smear and
confirmed that is was indeed Trichomoniasis (frounce or
canker). It is a disease that raptors can get from eating
starling and pigeons that carry the disease. It closes the
esophagus and the bird will starve to death. It is treatable
if caught in time. Last night the vet. gave it some pills
(Flagyl/Mitronidayoll) and three BIG syringes full of some
pureed chicken, baby food. I called her this evening and the
eagle is still alive. It is still touch and go.

She wants to get some better medication but has to buy 100
pills and she only needs one. She is very dedicated to helping
this bird and is doing it at her own expense.

Final note. Sandy was driving and I was holding the bird on
my lap, about halfway there I realized that it had worked its
feet out of the tape! It made me a LITTLE nervous knowing that
those HUGE talons were right there on my legs. It just sat
there the whole trip. Maybe it new we were trying to help it.
:-)

Arrived back home at 11:10 pm

Jerry and Sandy Converse
Grand Coulee, WA

http://members.tripod.com/nature_scenic_photos/

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember, amateurs built the Ark and
Professionals built the Titanic.