A wild eagle was returned to its home Jan. 27 after a successful recovery stint with the Gibsons Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
Volunteers found the bird, unable to fly, on the field in Shirley Macey Park on Dec. 2.
"We had it in care up to Dec. 29. It had some relatively minor injury in the right shoulder," said Gibsons Wildlife executive director Clint Davy after the release.
The eagle spent about a month in recovery before it was transferred to Delta where another organization had the facilities to test its flying ability before release.
Last Friday, the bird was transferred back home via helicopter for its release in Gibsons.
As Davy opened its cage, the eagle wasted little time hopping to freedom and taking flight over the trees where it was found. The bird was estimated to be approximately five years old.
"It was fully mature. When it came in it was 3.3kg. I'm not sure of its weight now," Davy said. "That was a little underweight."
Gibsons Wildlife began operations on the Coast in 1988 and has played a key role in nursing animals of all types back to health.
Between November of 2010 and 2011, the group rehabilitated 350 animals on the Coast, from birds of all sorts to deer, bats, otters and seals.
"Prior to that, we had a couple bobcats, coyote pups and Douglas squirrels, lots of them," Davy said.
The volunteers have also taken in bear cubs for transfer to other facilities, ones that have the proper accommodations for the animals.
Like many volunteer organizations on the Coast, Gibsons Wildlife depends on the support of the community to carry out its operations. The group sells things like photo cards, T-shirts and even bat houses to raise funds.
Volunteers help with the group's operation on a daily basis and are always in demand, Davy added.
For more information on Gibsons Wildlife and what to do if you find an injured or orphaned creature, visit www.gibsonswildliferehabcentre.org.
