FOLLOWUP: West Seattle-rescued Bald Eagle getting healthier

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

(February 25 photo by Kersti Muul)

Good news about the ailing Bald Eagle rescued at Don Armeni Boat Ramp one week ago today. We checked back with PAWS Wildlife Center, where she’s being cared for – here’s what PAWS wildlife veterinarians Dr. Nicki Rosenhagen and Dr. Bethany Groves report:

Her veterinary re-check found a significant improvement in her anemia. This means she is starting to regenerate red blood cells, crucial for continued improvement along with many other factors which determine if an animal can recover from injury or illness. She is strong and eating well and the plan is to allow her another week to recover before moving her to our larger flight pen to assess her flight and then allow time to recondition before her hopeful release.

She had been on the ground, listless, for some time on the lawn at the park before local wildlife advocates/experts and state/local officers teamed for the rescue. Those advocates included Kersti Muul, who reported here that this Eagle is a mated West Seattle resident known as “Bey.”

Barb March 4, 2021 (9:08 am)

Thanks for the update. Hopefully we will witness her release in WS.

ACG March 4, 2021 (9:39 am)

Thanks for the update. So, will the eagle eventually be released back here in West Seattle so she can be reunited with her mate?

Kersti Muul March 4, 2021 (1:59 pm)

That is why I needed to ID her, to prove she was a mated pairs from here.If she survives it will be a little while yet. She still needs time in the flight cage, and rehabilitation.
- K March 4, 2021 (6:46 pm)
  
  Will her mate wait for her? How long before they figure something has happened and might start looking for another?

Kalo March 4, 2021 (9:58 am)

Yay!!

James Patrick Herrmann March 4, 2021 (10:16 am)

After one year and counting of pandemic, I hear ya, listless bald eagle!

Pelicans March 4, 2021 (10:30 am)

Good luck, Bey. We want to see you in the wind again. What would be the cause of eagle anemia? Is her diet not what it should be? Is it something she’s eating, or not eating?

Kersti Muul March 4, 2021 (11:59 am)

She had hemorrhagic diarrhea from an infection. This caused the anemia and lack of protein etc. She pooped during the capture attempts and I have a photo of her bloody poop.
- Kathy March 4, 2021 (1:59 pm)
  
  Hi Kersti,I know there has been some discussion as to which mate the eagle belongs to. We’ve had an eagle perched in a tree on our street, Belvidere and Lander more than once since Bey was captured (I actually witness the capture and I must say, so impressed with the handling of it.) It calls out. I haven’t seen another mate. The other night it was there for about two hours. It is in the tree again right now. If this is the injured eagle’s mate, what becomes of them?thanks
  - Kersti Muul March 4, 2021 (7:22 pm)
    
    I got your email. Will reply soon. Been so inundated with emails and observations, thank you so much. I will come take a look.The mate will wait for a period of time, but would eventually try to recruit a new mate, while keeping the same nest.
- Kate March 4, 2021 (2:23 pm)
  
  It wasn’t salmonella, was it? The same thing going around the songbirds? Thank you to everyone for the rescue and rehab. As a foreigner, the bald eagles here are a true delight!
  - Kersti Muul March 4, 2021 (7:20 pm)
    
    no.

HS March 4, 2021 (10:53 am)

I’m really enjoying reading these updates – thank you. Really cool that the eagle was identified as one of a local mated pair. West Seattle is such a great neighborhood.

Sharon March 4, 2021 (11:26 am)

Great news! Thank you for the update, Kersti. Hopeful that Bey can rejoin Jay (before he finds another mate!)

Kersti Muul March 4, 2021 (12:21 pm)

Precious
Sunflower March 4, 2021 (9:16 pm)

Such a great photo!

Hang in there eagles 💓

wscommuter March 4, 2021 (11:37 am)

I missed the note about figuring out the mating pair identification – can someone tell me which mating pair? We see the 56th/Schmitz pair from our house and I’ve been hoping it wasn’t one of them (not that I want to be any other pair, but selfishly I’m hoping its not “our” pair).

WSB March 4, 2021 (11:39 am)

Kersti discusses extensively in the (from a previous story’s discussion thread) comment to which we linked above.
Kas March 6, 2021 (10:08 pm)

I have been trying to figure out where this nest is located. Can you tell me what address the tree is located behind? Thanks

Higginshere March 4, 2021 (12:13 pm)

We can show the good people at PAWS how much we appreciate this vital work by donating to them.

Kersti Muul March 4, 2021 (1:57 pm)

We have been and should keep doing so! ❤️I’ve had a fundraiser link on my FB page which I’ve linked here but doesn’t always work.

Marcy Johnsen March 4, 2021 (2:19 pm)

So glad eagle is improving. In the morning there is often an eagle perched high in the tree at the foot of Jacobsen St on the water side of Beach Dr. I haven’t seen it there for a couple weeks though, and wonder if is the injured eagle. Has anyone else spotted him/her lately?

Kersti muul March 4, 2021 (7:19 pm)

saw it yesterday and a few days prior

Sharon March 4, 2021 (10:00 pm)

This was the day when I decided to call them Bey and Jay. Not only did they belt out their duet to each other but to us, just like Beyoncé and Jay-Z would!

Kersti Muul March 6, 2021 (8:22 am)

🤣
Sunflower March 6, 2021 (10:26 am)

Adorable, and another great photo, thanks for sharing! Love them and their fancy eagle pants :)

Has the mate been seen in recent days? How is he doing?