FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] "Challenger" soars again BCS bowl championship

["Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

    I hope you were watching the start of tonight's BCS National Championship 
Football Game
between Florida and Ohio State when Tennessee's most famous Bald Eagle soared 
during
the opening ceremony and was a another great moment live on FOX TV.
    It was once again beautiful to see our gorgeous national bird as he flew 
low over a massive
American Flag.  "Challenger" then circled over the flag and flew to his 
handler.  Thousands
cheered him on.

    "Challenger" is a non-releasable bird cared for by the non-profit American 
Eagle Foundation
headquartered at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in the foothills of the 
Great Smoky
Mountains.

    "Challenger" is named in honor of the crew of the space shuttle, and has 
been making
educational appearances throughout the country since 1993. Acting as an 
ambassador for
his species, "Challenger" has raised a great level of national public awareness 
about the
need to restore and protect America's eagles, natural resources and 
environment. The Bald
Eagle is still a "threatened" species throughout the lower 48 states, and much 
of its nesting
and feeding habitat is being encroached upon by humans.

    "Challenger" is the first bald eagle in U.S. history trained to free-fly 
into major league
sports stadiums during the presentation of the National Anthem. He has 
participated in 
almost every type of sports event you can imagine.

    We have often posted reports on TN-Birds about the appearances for national 
audiences
by this wonderful eagle ambassador from Tennessee.

Let's go birding......

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN
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