After months in rehabilitation, two bald eagles will return to the wild this weekend at York River State Park.
The juvenile bald eagles — both of which hatched this year — are set to be released at the park at 1 p.m. Saturday after being rescued from different parts of the state, according to a Wildlife Center of Virginia news release.
York River State Park in James City County has hosted eagle releases in conjunction with the Wildlife Center of Virginia in the past. The most recent eagle release at the park was Dec. 2016.
The birds spent several months learning how to fly in outdoor flight pens and regaining strength before the Wildlife Center of Virginia’s veterinary staff cleared the birds for release, according to the release.
One eaglet, identified by its intake number 17-0879, was discovered on the ground on May 10 in Essex County after it “likely” fell from its nest, the release said. The eagle was thin and dehydrated, but no other injuries were found.
After receiving treatment, the eagle was moved to a “nest” in a tower of one of the wildlife center’s enclosures.
The other eaglet, number 17-1354, was found after it killed and ate a backyard chicken on June 8 in Chesapeake and couldn’t fly away, according to the release. Once it was admitted to the center, rehabilitators noted the bird was thin and had lice and flat flies.
On June 10, the eagle was moved to an outdoor flight pen, the release said.
Bald eagles face a rocky path to recovery: last year more than 70 percent of all eagles admitted to the Wildlife Center of Virginia died. Many of the birds arrive with severe lead poisoning from hunter’s bullets.
Less than 20 percent of birds rehabilitated by the wildlife center are released back into the wild, according to Wildlife Center of Virginia data.
The eagle release is open to the public. Guests should tell park entrance gate staff they are attending the eagle release and meet at the park’s visitor center, the release said.
For directions to York River State Park click here. For more information on the Wildlife Center of Virginia click here.
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