Carolina Raptor Center - Eagle Journeys

Eagle Journeys

For years resident eagles have produced eggs at Carolina Raptor Center. The current residents in the Betty J. & J. Stanley Livingstone eagle aviary have laid eggs for many years. None of these eggs hatched until March 2006, when during her feeding rounds, one of our volunteers discovered a small ball of fluff. The first bald eaglet hatched out on March 4th followed by the second on March 5th. The following stories and videos will tell their stories. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

»

For eaglet videos, click here.
»

Follow the eagles journeys! Click here for maps.

How Did the Eagles Get Their Names?

The volunteer corps of over 200 individuals participates in almost every activity along with the staff. So, it's a pleasure when we can provide our volunteers and those that are special to us with a gift. Providing dedicated volunteers with the right to name resident birds has been a long standing tradition at Carolina Raptor Center. Many of our resident birds are name in honor or memory of those we love. The eagles residing at Carolina Raptor Center are just one example.

Derek is named after a very special boy that visited Carolina Raptor Center on many occasions. Derek Hageman loved raptors and could name almost every raptor. He pointed them out to his parents and would tell his classmates stories about the birds. When Derek passed away at the age of nine, Carolina Raptor Center became a place of rememberance for his family. His mother volunteered at CRC as she was learning to deal with her loss. We held a memorial service at Derek's school and released a rehabilitated hawk as symbolic of Derek's spirit beginning a new journey. Derek was a special boy and it was a wonderful tribute to name one of our resident eagles after him. Derek, the eagle, is the father of the two eaglets that were born at Carolina Raptor Center on March 4th and 5th, 2006.

Derek, the eagle was sent to us by the South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey in Charleston, SC. He was found in December of 1995. It is suspected he was shot. His injury consisted of a fractured left tibiotarsus, stiff right wrist, old fracture right radius & ulna. Derek arrived at Carolina Raptor Center on 24 August, 1998. He was at least seven years old at that time.

Savannah was transferred to us by the South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey from Charleston, SC. She was found injured in April of 1995. Although no other information is available on her injuries, we suspect a collision of some sort. Her injuries include: Fracture to left radius & ulna, stiff elbow and wrist.

Savannah arrived at Carolina Raptor Center on 24 August, 1998 and was at least seven years old at that time. She laid eggs for the first time in 2004. Her eggs hatched for the first time in March of 2006. She and Derek cared for the two eaglets, the first bald eagles born in captivity in NC.

Len - The male eaglet was named after former volunteer Len Chason. Len spent his professional career at Hoerst Celanese. Len's son, Chip, said, "We are so grateful that Carolina Raptor Center provided a place for dad to have a second career." Len cut the grass at the Betty J. & J. Stanley Livingstone eagle aviary, helped set up the Christmas show and assisted with lots of other maintenance challenges. When there was no lawn mower, Len donated one that he wasn't using at home. He'd spend thirty minutes fixing it before each grass cutting. Len also trimmed the trees in the eagle aviary until one day when he lost his balance and fell off the ladder. We had to watch him closely because he wanted to do everything. Len had so much energy and kept acting like he was a teenager. He loved what he was doing at Carolina Raptor Center and gave us lots of stories to laugh about.

Len was diagnosed with cancer during the winter of 2006. He was homebound for all of March. President/CEO Alan Barnhardt said, "We talked about Carolina Raptor Center and about the baby eagles that were born on March 4th and 5th. I showed him some videos of the babies. Len cared for the aviary for years and I imagine he thought of the eagles as his children. So when he saw Savannah and Derek's babies, he must have been as proud as a grandfather." Len passed away on March 15, 2006 shortly after the birth of the eaglets. Len was a great friend. Many volunteers and staff members will be telling Len stories for years to come. We'll laugh as we remember his antics and jokes. We'll also remember his hard work and all he gave us.

Lola Brown-Sen Gupta

Lola - Carolina Raptor Center had come to know Lola over the last twelve years as a dedicated and wonderful volunteer. Volunteer Larry said, "I could always tell when Lola was here. The whole building would be smiling." Lola had that effect on people.

Lola also had an impact on thousands of injured birds. Her professional career as a medical technician grounded her in a study of human blood and fluids. She could recognize parasites, viruses, white blood cells and other indicators in human blood. Her vast knowledge of medical research and blood-borne pathogens was new to Carolina Raptor Center in the early 1990s. Lola figured out ways to apply that knowledge to the birds. Director of Rehabilitation Mathias Engelmann said, "It was a regular occurrence to hear Lola talk about the effectiveness of certain antibiotics as she reviewed blood samples under a microscope." We feel that our highly successful treatment and release program is directly related to all the knowledge that Lola brought to Carolina Raptor Center. President/CEO Alan Barnhardt noted, "Not only did Lola pioneer new research and treatment methods, but she left us a legacy by teaching our staff and volunteers what she learned."

Lola Brown Sen Gupta passed away on October 9th, 2006 after a valiant fight against cancer. "Lola meant so much to us and her medical knowledge helped so many birds. We felt it fitting that the female eagle should be named in her memory", said President/CEO Barnhardt.

As a further tribute to Lola, the Sen Gupta - Brown family named Carolina Raptor Center as a recipient for memorials. They also decided to purchase equipment to improve the medical care for patients. Mathias Engelmann said, "This new equipment will allow us to expand the educational opportunities to other rehabilitators, veterinary students and biologists." We are honored to remember Lola as one of our family members and to be able to honor her memory through these wonderful gifts.