On Wednesday, June 6, the Wildlife Center of Virginia released a Golden Eagle at the Devil’s Knob overlook at Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County. The release was one of three "big releases" during the week of June 4. The Golden Eagle — Wildlife Center patient #12-0095 — was admitted to the Center on February 23 from Page County; the eagle sustained a left-wing fracture and other wounds during a research operation by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Veterinary fellow Dr. Miranda Sadar operated on this bird, and the eagle recovered from its injuries. The bird has spent time in the Center’s large flight pens – including time as the “star” of Critter Cam, the Center’s online live cam. Dr. Dave McRuer, the Center’s veterinary director, did the honors and released the Golden Eagle in front of a crowd of about 50 people. Also on hand was Jeff Cooper, eagle biologist for DGIF. After walking to the edge of the overlook, Dr. Dave tossed the Golden Eagle into the air. The eagle took off and soared out of sight. The crowd cheered and began to dissipate; some stayed for the Wildlife Center tradition of enjoying cookies at an eagle release. After several minutes passed, the Golden returned to the release site — as the eagle flew by overhead, the remaining crowd realized that there were two Red-tailed Hawks in close pursuit! After a couple of minutes of being dive-bombed, the Golden Eagle ignored the hawks and caught a thermal — and flew higher and higher. Once he was high in the sky, he soared south — out of sight. The Golden Eagle was not outfitted with a transmitter; the bird was banded prior to release.
