[Bristol-Birds] young Golden Eagle died today at Nashville rehab center

From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Bristol-birds" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2012 22:02:12 -0400
As some of you have already learned, the juvenile Golden Eagle (GOEA) at 
Walden's Puddle wildlife rehab center of Joelton, TN die today.  

It had been found emaciated on the ground near the Smith & Jackson County TN 
line on July 2 and was taken by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Polly 
Rooker to Walden's Puddle rehab center.  In spite of their best efforts, the 
GOEA apparently just wasn't strong enough to overcome the asper pneumonia, that 
had developed by July 31.  

Tentative plans had been made for attachment of a satellite transmitter on the 
GOEA prior to its release within a few weeks.  

In a proposed partnership project: 

·       The US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) was to provide the satellite 
transmitter.

·        The GOEA was to be transferred to the American Eagle Foundation (AEF) 
in Pigeon Forge during the next week or so, or after recovery from the 
pneumonia.

·         The GOEA would be given further conditioning and exercise in AEF's 
150-foot long flight pen.

·         One of Dr. Todd Katzner's experienced Golden Eagle satellite tracking 
team at West Virginia University was proposed to attach the satellite 
transmitter and demonstrate to AEF staff some of these satellite techniques for 
possible future utilization with other eagles.

·         AEF would pay for use of the satellite tracking system, with data 
provided by the USFWS to AEF and TWRA.

·        Private donors had agreed to reimburse AEF for satellite tracking 
costs and for travel expenses to and from Pigeon Forge for Katzner's team. 

The susceptibility of a Golden Eagle to asper pneumonia may have something to 
do with the climate in TN, a biologist suspect.  Globally, GOEAs only live year 
round in hot places where humidity is low - northern Kazakhstan, the Mojave 
desert, Wyoming, etc. don't do well in warm, humid environments and die of 
asper quickly. Likewise, a GOEA (especially a bird with Wyoming genes) may be 
adapted to cooler, drier climates.

Virtually all that you read above was copy and pasted and put together in this 
email using information from Bob Hatcher, American Eagle Foundation Eagle 
Consultant, and Retired TWRA NG-ES Coordinator as well as Dr. Todd Katzner, 
Research Assistant Professor, Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West 
Virginia University.  Some information provided by a staff member at Walden's 
Puddle rehab center.

Many are sorry to hear this news. Everything was done that could be done to 
help this eagle. We should be tremendously proud of all the professional 
biologists and experts who worked so hard with this effort.

Thanks to everyone for the great effort.

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN
[Bristol-Birds] young Golden Eagle died today at Nashville rehab center

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