This week Golden Eagle 24-362 was returned to his home territory near Richland, OR and released after spending two and one-half months at BMW recovering from a fractured scapula.

Once the scapula was healed, the eagle was moved to a flight pen.

When ready for release, a metal band was placed on his right leg.

Then there was a long drive and the release!

We returned to BMW to find a Red-tailed Hawk. A woman had called about an injured “eagle” in her driveway near Boardman just as we were leaving to release the eagle. Volunteer Dan was able to capture the hawk and transport it to Pendleton. Dan has traveled countless miles to rescue wildlife. Thank you Dan!

My initial thought when looking at the hawk was that he had been electrocuted. Radiographs made it apparent that he had been shot. The fractures were not repairable. If allowed to heal, the hawk would have been left with a chronically arthritic elbow and unable to fly. Euthanasia was a kinder gift to offer the bird.

We were pleased to welcome families from the Wagon Wheel Co-op on Friday. They learned about BMW’s Education Birds and then dissected owl pellets. 

A heart-felt thank you to The Roundhouse Foundation for a three-year grant to support the camera expansion project. The grant will allow additional cameras to be placed in the Education Building mews, as well as the rehabilitation pens and in the clinic. We are very grateful to The Foundation for their generous support of Blue Mountain Wildlife and rural Oregon. Roundhouse Foundation supports creative solutions to the unique challenges associated with rural culture and landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.