We acquired the bird from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Washington State University. She came to us with impaired vision in her right eye and an injury to her right wing, both of which made her unable to be released into the wild. She is currently settled in our Raptor Center and staff are working hard on getting her trained for program use. Her training is going well and she is already reliably stepping up to a glove and allowing herself to be walked and weighed. Once we have completed her box training we plan to bring her to classes and programs, where she will act as an ambassador for her species.
Golden Eagles are not common in Ohio, but they can occasionally be spotted in the winter, especially in the wide open spaces of the eastern and southeastern parts of the state. I have seen wild Golden Eagles nearly ever winter soaring over the reclaimed mine lands of The Wilds in Muskingum County. They are one of the largest and fastest birds in North America and favor open country habitats, feeding on animals of varying sizes such as rabbits and deer, and even foxes and bobcats! We are happy our new eagle has a calm and mild disposition and allows us to work with her without any aggression.
The dark brown plumage of the adult Golden Eagle is highlighted with a golden sheen on the head and neck. This gives the bird a regal appearance, which is one reason we named ours Midas. Watch for Midas at our live animal programs this spring! She is quite a sight to behold!
Michelle Leighty
Perkins Wildlife Center Manager
