'Beauty' leaves her mark
Jane Veltkamp was on vacation in Alaska in 2005 when she met a bald eagle with no beak. It had been shot by a poacher.
She asked its caretakers in the raptor rehabilitation facility what was going to happen to it.
They told her it had been there about 18 months and was scheduled to be euthanized.
“Please don’t do that,” Veltkamp said.
She believed she could save it. She wasn't entirely sure how, but the possibility of a prosthetic beak for a bald eagle came to mind.
From there, it became reality.
The eagle, given the name “Beauty" due to the extent of her gruesome appearance after she was initially found, was brought to Idaho by Veltkamp, a former nurse, raptor biologist and founder of Birds of Prey Northwest in St. Maries.
The two bonded.
“She seemed to know I was trying to help her,” Veltkamp said.
Veltkamp led a multi-specialty team that over the next year and a half engineered a 3-D printed beak for Beauty.
"Within hours of the procedure, Beauty was drinking water like any other bald eagle, scooping it up from her dish," Veltkamp wrote.
Over the years since the prosthesis was fitted in 2008, Beauty’s own beak continued to regenerate. The original prosthesis reached a point where it no longer fit, but by then Beauty's beak had become large and sturdy enough to allow her to eat on her own at Birds of Prey Northwest for nearly 20 years. She could not have fended for herself in the wild.
The eagle’s story gained international attention and she became an educational ambassador, “Beauty the Bald Eagle,” as a display bird at the federally permitted raptor facility.
“When on tour, folks would find Beauty to be the first bird they met,” Veltkamp said.
Every morning for the next two decades from her aviary looking out toward Lake Coeur d’Alene, Beauty would call to her handlers as if speaking to them in her bald eagle tones.
“She was the first bird I would see, and she would always greet me,” Veltkamp said. “She was saying, ‘Good morning. Where is my salmon?’”
Beauty had her own personality. She was consistent and tolerant with what Veltkamp described as a “steady Eddie temperament.”
“She was beautiful,” Veltkamp said.
But on Friday, Beauty, about 25 years old, died. Her death was unexpected, as she had been well and showed no signs that something was wrong.
While eagles in the wild can live about 25 years, those in captivity can live to be about 50.
“I fully expected her to outlive me,” Veltkamp said.
She said Beauty was at the heart of their mission as a nonprofit that conserves birds of prey in two ways: by providing medical care to wild injured eagles, hawks, owls, falcons and ospreys; and educating with live birds of prey. Beauty met both criteria, receiving medical treatment and educating many.
“Beauty was a treasure to all of us here at Birds of Prey,” Veltkamp said.
She said Beauty inspired people of all ages who followed her journey, which was broadcast around the world on NatGeoWild. Her story is told in the award-winning children’s book "Beauty and the Beak," co-authored by Veltkamp and Deborah Lee Rose.
Veltkamp said the book has been read by millions of children and adults, and many schools have made 3D-printed copies of Beauty’s prosthetic beak.
Beauty raised awareness of the dangers faced by eagles and other birds of prey. Veltkamp said illegal shooting of bald eagles is among the leading causes of their death as there is a black-market feather trade.
“It’s hard for people to understand why a human being would take a firearm and shoot a bird of prey, but it happens,” Veltkamp said.
Beauty was also a symbol of the good and bad in people.
“She represents both the cruelty and compassion in humanity,” Veltkamp said.
Thousands of condolences have come in from around the world as word of Beauty’s passing has spread.
“Beauty lived true to her name and graced so many people with her beauty and intelligence. Take solace in knowing she lived an amazing life that so many do not get to experience.” — Danielle in Idaho
“My now 8-year-old daughter and I are still fascinated by Beauty’s story since we visited BOPNW twice for field trips to get to see her. Janie became my daughter’s big example in wanting to become a biologist. Beauty will never be forgotten in our family!” — Carolin
"Beauty was a very special eagle and contributed over all those years to people’s understanding not only of eagles, but the importance of maintaining healthy raptor numbers across the world. She will live on in spirit as long as your centre, and others like it exist." — Charrone in Vancover Island
Anyone who wants to share about how Beauty touched their lives is invited to leave a comment or make a donation in her memory at www.birdsofpreynorthwest.org.
“She left a Beauty mark on all of us," Veltkamp said.
Beauty the Bald Eagle without her prosthetic beak.
Beauty the Bald Eagle with her prosthetic beak.