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The winter of 2000 was particularly harsh. Southeast
Oklahoma was severely impacted.
Lake Clayton was frozen over, and this caused a severe hardship
for Eagles who fished the lake for food. |
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A bald eagle had to resort to eating road-kill.
Eagles are heavy and take off slowly, and unfortunately a passing
truck could not avoid hitting the eagle. However the truck
driver did pick up the severely injured eagle and spent considerable
effort
finding a veterinarian in Poteau.
The veterinarian in Poteau did the best she could to stabilize
the eagle, and two game rangers drove icy roads to get the eagle to Tulsa.
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Paul Welch, DVM |
Doctor Paul Welch, a noted Avian and Wildlife veterinarian, called to
indicate he had just received the Eagle, and was taking x-rays.
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| The bald eagle's right wing was broken in three places, and Dr.
Welch pinned them in in hopes they would heal properly.
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The Siftar's took the Eagle to their Rehabilitation facility,
outside of Tulsa, where she
could spend some time healing.
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| The Eagle would have to adjust to living in captivity while it
healed.
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"The first time I handed him food and
he took it from me I was in love. I mean that bird, it was such a
trust for him to trust me and it's just been so rewarding."
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Fortunately the eagle's temperament was such that it adjusted
well, and the four weeks preceding the follow-up veterinarian check
passed uneventfully.
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Four weeks later when Dr. Welch removed the pins, he realized
that two of the breaks had healed, but the third had not. He knew it
was a long shot, but given it was an Eagle he did the best he could,
but this time it didn't turn out as everyone had hoped.
We were faced with a tough decision. We had to euthanize the
eagle or remove the wing.
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We have to have Federal approval to euthanize, and the permits
office was closed, and the eagle might adjust to life with out part
of her wing. We couldn't keep the Eagle, once it's wing was
amputated. Federal law generally prohibits rehabbers from
having a non-releasable bird.
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We thought it was going to be releaseable, you have the vision in your mind of an eagle flying
away.
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| We knew we couldn't keep the eagle, so had to find a good home,
for a flightless bird with a good temperament.
Two months prior, we had read an Article about the Zuni Indians in New Mexico,
having a Eagle Aviary, and a friend sent us a pointer to the article.
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After making a call to Steve Albert, the biologist with the Zuni
fish and wildlife department, we decided the Zuni offered a good
home. Permits were submitted, and approved.
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April 26, 2001 American Airlines graciously supplied a
MD-80, that was finished with routine maintenance. At great expense
AA offered us a first class ride to New Mexico. When shipping
animals, it's important to have a non-stop flight, but no Airline
had one from Tulsa, to Albuquerque. American flies to their Dallas
hub, and then to Albuquerque, but this day they went directly there. |
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Our first stop was the Albuquerque Zoo. The eagle
had to pass a medical
exam to be admitted to New Mexico. Noted wildlife veterinarian Dr. Ned Gentz,
with the Albuquerque Zoo, volunteers his time. The eagle gets a
good bill of health, and it's off for a two hour ride to Zuni. |
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At the border of
the Zuni Indian reservation, we stop and the Eagle is physically transferred
to the Zuni.
Zuni medicine man Octavius Seowtwa performs a private purification ceremony for the
eagle. |
| Octavius Seowtwa, Zuni Medicine Man: "Evil thoughts or
anything of that nature would be purified here before it comes into
the reservation." |
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Our Eagle would live it's life in a one-of-a-kind flight cage, built of native pine and stone.
The Zuni need feathers for their cultural and religious ceremonies.
This is a perfect situation for the eagle, the Zuni and the rehabber
with a non-releasable bird. Seldom in the rehab world do we get the opportunity
for a win-win scenario. |
Barton Martza, Zuni Lt.
Governor (2001) |
The Zuni tribe is gathering crippled and unwanted birds and
picking up their feathers as they naturally molt.
Barton Martza, Zuni Lt. Governor (2001): "Zuni Tribe now has what
they've been always wanting is eagle feathers to carry out their
traditions and customs. " |
| The American
Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1987 restored the Native American's
right to have Eagle feathers. Eagles and their feathers
are sacred, and eagle feathers are used in ceremonies by almost every
tribe. However the process for obtaining them from the federal
government can take over three years. All eagle feathers are
required to be sent to a repository in Colorado and Indians have to
request them. The Zuni pioneered a way to have their own renewable
supply while caring for eagles. |
| "This would be a great project for tribes in Oklahoma," says
John Antonio, the Region 2 Native American Liaison with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Albuquerque
office. That's why John would like to see Oklahoma tribes build
flight cages like the Zuni have. Other tribes have expressed
an interest. |
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When Scott asked, "is there were enough eagles to go around so tribes
could do this" - John replied, "From what we understand from the
various rehabbers nationwide, they wish they could place the birds
and sometimes there's no place for them and so they end up having to
put them under." |
John Antonio of the Department of
Interior and Scott Thompson. |
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Our Oklahoma Eagle was released into the Zuni flight cage, along
with about 14 other eagles, most non-flighted, with various injuries
that prevent them from being released. Nelson Luna takes care
of the eagles on a day to day basis and it is a great honor and
privilege for him. |
| Just after Nelson released the Oklahoma Eagle into the Zuni aviary
a little sprinkle fell down. Scott Thompson asked Nelson if he
noticed, the rain.
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| Nelson Luna, Zuni Fish & Wildlife Service: "Yeah,
that's a good thing because we feel that when we have precip our
forefathers are here letting us know that their presence is here by
the rain. Our forefather's spirits are letting us know that it's a
good thing we've accomplished here today. " |
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Now it was time to say our goodbye's.
Gary and Kathy take one last glance as they prepare to leave. "You're gonna be OK, yeah, you are, I love you, you take care,"
Kathy whispers to the bird. "Have a good life,"
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| We knew we couldn't keep her, yet now, with Scott Thompson's video
story we will have memories to share for a lifetime. |
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Eagle 1 story
