Injured Bald Eagle
TOWN OF ROCKLAND – An alert truck driver may have saved the life
of an American Bald Eagle, the National Bird.
State Police said Mario Giorbano was driving for Balford Farms at about
20 a.m. on Tuesday when he spotted an eagle sitting in the ditch along
Route 17 in the Town of Rockland.
Giordano attempted to assist the bird, which appeared to be stuck in mud,
but when he realized it was injured, he called Sullivan County 911 and
the State Police.
Troopers stayed with the bird of prey, which Giorbano named “Anthony,”
until licensed wildlife rehabilitator Kathy Michele of Narrowsburg and
George Banta of Beacon Lake, PA arrived.
Using only a blanket and dog crate, they loaded the bird into an SUV and
took it for x-rays and possible treatment.
A dead raccoon was in the vicinity of the injured bird leading authorities
to believe it was feeding on it when he was struck by a vehicle.
The American Bald Eagle had been on the endangered and threatened species
list until it was removed by the Department of the Interior in 2007.
