Patriot, our 17-year-old
female Bald Eagle, and Volunteer Sandra Murray impressed guests who visited the
Great River Museum recently on a cold wintry day.
Patriot (Photo by Gay Schroer)
Patriot is a large
female Bald Eagle who came to the World Bird Sanctuary when her nest tree at
Mark Twain Lake blew into the water.
Patriot's siblings drowned.
Patriot, who was a gray
fuzzy chick back then, was plucked from the icy waters of the lake and rushed
to the World Bird Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital in an attempt to save her life.
When Patriot was brought
in to the World Bird Sanctuary’s Wildlife Hospital she was treated by a team of
WBS staff, volunteers and vets.
Then she was placed in a human Isolette where she was kept warm and dry
just as you would a human baby. At
times she seemed close to death.
There were times when
she looked lifeless and I can remember Joe Hoffmann, another World Bird
Sanctuary staff member, saying, “Don't be surprised if she is not alive in
the morning.” Joe and I were a lot
younger then and we were in charge of the hospital patients on the
weekends. Even though the odds
were against her, the efforts of many staff members and volunteers, and coupled
with this bird’s seeming
indomitable spirit and will to live, Patriot pulled through.
Patriot and Sandra Lowe Murray, WBS
Volunteer/Naturalist (Photo by Mike Zieloski)
Because of the lung
damage she sustained Patriot was not releasable and is now a vital member of
our Education Team. She has worked
at Grant's Farm, Sea World of Ohio for 6 years and has been at Home Plate for
the Baseball Cardinals for the singing of the National Anthem. She has also been to hundreds of
schools and other public and private events.
One of the most moving
parts of Patriot’s job is when she appears as the guest of honor at many Eagle
Scout Ceremonies where we thank the young men for building their Eagle Scout
Project at World Bird Sanctuary.
Patriot and volunteer Sandra Murray (Photo by Mike Zieloski)
Sandra Lowe Murray began
volunteering with World Bird Sanctuary in May 2011. Sandra teaches guests, other volunteers and her coworkers
about birds and other creatures.
If I remember correctly, the photos that I took on this day of Sandra
and Patriot were very exciting--this was the first day that Sandra held Patriot
for a program.
National Great Rivers Museum, Alton, Illinois (photo by Mike Ziloski)
Sandra frequently
assists with World Bird Sanctuary programs at The Great Rivers Museum and our
displays at the Convention and Visitor's Bureau located in Alton,
Illinois. Everyone who meets
Sandra is impressed with her enthusiasm for wildlife and learning. She is an
excellent photographer as well.
As the winter Bald Eagle
season winds down, I reminisce about all the great guests from Missouri,
Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana with whom Sandra and I were able to share our love
of Bald Eagles.
I love the winter season
because of the snow and the Bald Eagles.
Submitted by Michael
Zieloski, World Bird Sanctuary Director of Education
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