Norbert

Norbert was hatched in 2004, presumably in a wild nest in South Dakota. The story has it that he was found on a golf course stealing golf balls. He was trapped and taken to a Rehabilitation Center in Rapid City, South Dakota. There it was determined that he showed all the behavior of a human imprinted bird. As this behavior would make him a danger to others as well as himself, he was declared unreleasable and placed with the World Bird Sanctuary. He arrived here on December 9, 2004, and after a short settling in period he began the manning and training process. The ultimate goal for Norbert is to fly him at special events and educational programs. So far he is working out nicely. The World Bird Sanctuary received him in his first year, at which point a bald eagle is totally brown. This coloration confuses many people when trying to identify the species. The photo above shows him in his third year plumage. You can see that his tail is already beginning to show the distinctive white feathers for which these birds are known. By his fifth year his head and tail feathers will be the signature white color of his species. Your adoption fee will help feed, house and care for Norbert in the coming year.

 

Adoption Fee $150
Is this a gift?
Send gift to:

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Description large; white head, neck and tail; brown-black body; massive yellow bill and feet
Sex males and females are similar but females are larger
Age juveniles are mostly dark brown with white blotches underneath and on the wing linings; become more white each molt; gain adult plumage after 4-5 years; immature calls are generally harsher
Length 31-37"
Wingspan 5.8-7.5'
Weight 8-14 lbs.
Habitat rivers, lakes, coastal areas
Status seen across most of North America; common in Alaska, parts of Florida and in the Midwest during winter months; common along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in winter; became endangered in the 70s from pesticides; conservation programs and pesticide banning helped increase populations again
Range Alaska and Canada to the southern United States
Behavior monogamous pairs; breed April-August and build a stick nest as high as 150 feet above the ground, usually in a tree or on cliffs near water; renovate and add to their nest each year until it falls; 1 brood with 1-3 dull, whitish eggs; both parents incubate for 34-36 days until semi-altricial chicks hatch asynchronously; chicks leave nest at 10 weeks; large numbers of bald eagles often congregate where food is plentiful, like spawning ruts; will steal food from smaller and weaker osprey; fly low after prey
Diet carrion, fish, waterfowl, birds, small mammals
Vocalization sharp, pleading, creaking cackle; "kleek-kik-ik-ik-ik"
Other Information - The Bald Eagle has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782