Area bald eagle back on the wing

SANDPOINT - An injured bald eagle found on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille last week is back on the wing.

The adult female eagle was released in the same spot she was discovered on Friday after five days of recuperative captivity at Birds of Prey Northwest in St. Maries.

"We expect this bird to be going back to her nest," raptor biologist Janie Veltkamp told a group of Northshore residents who gathered to see the eagle released back into the wild.

It was discovered by Ken Sanger and Tamara Verby last Friday. Veltkamp said the bird appeared to have struck or been struck by something, which bruised its wings.

It stayed overnight in the brush and was picked up by Veltkamp on Saturday.

"We did take an X-ray - no fractures. But we just hope she can fly. We really don't know until we release the bird," said Veltkamp.

Janie Veltkamp donned leather welding cape sleeves and layers of leather gloves. She and her husband, Don, extricated the eagle from a large pet crate in the back of their sport utility vehicle and proceeded to the shoreline.

"Because we know that she's got a mate and a nest, we want to get her back as soon as we can," Veltkamp said.

Neighbors and onlookers took photos with their cameras, smartphones and tablets as Veltkamp released the bird. The eagle unfolded its wings and flew over the lake, rattling a seagull that happened to be in the wrong airspace at the wrong time.

"Go girl!" Veltkamp yelled as the eagle flew from sight.