GRANT
Species: Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Bald Eagle • Born: Unknown • Gender: Male • Disability: Fracture in left wrist
2022 – Sadly, due to intense spring storms the netting in Glenda and Grant’s aviary was damaged, creating a hole where Grant was able to slip out. AEF staff conducts daily net checks; however, we are unsure what caused the hole to appear.
The proper authorities were notified (USFWS & TWRA) and AEF immediately instigated a search. AEF staff continues to watch the area for Grant and investigates any potential sightings.
Despite Grant’s old wing injury, our rehab manager reported having seen him in the area. We are hopeful that given how great he looked that he is surviving on his own and will once again become a wild bald eagle.
Grant, formerly known as Providence, is an adult bald eagle who arrived at American Eagle Foundation July, 2009, as an adult. Grant was transferred to AEF from Wildlife Center of Virginia, where he had been treated for a fractured bone. During recovery he developed problems with his left wrist, which left him permanently disabled.
His limited flight left him unreleasable but he became a wonderful educational candidate for our Pick-a-Mate aviary. While residing in the Pick-a-Mate section, it was observed that he was attracted to Glenda.
In 2018 they were placed together in a private compartment on Eagle Mountain Sanctuary where it is hoped they will become a breeding pair.
Read more about AEF’s Captive Breeding and Hacking program.
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
Bald Eagles were placed at the center of the Great Seal of the United States in 1782! Since then, they have served as the pride of America’s skies and the symbol of all that America stands for.
Bald Eagles obviously aren’t bald! “Bald” in this sense refers to an Middle English word that means “white headed.” When eagles fledge the nest at between 10 and 13 weeks of age, they are primarily all brown. An Eagle gets its full white head and tail feathers and yellow beak and eyes at around four to five years of age.
Bald Eagles typically mate for life. Usually, they will only look for a new mate if their faithful companion dies, but sometimes a new mate is chosen in a territorial fight over a nest.
In building a nest, Bald Eagles will choose a ‘super-canopy’ tree—one rising above the rest— near to water, with sturdy limbs and a commanding view of the surrounding terrain. Typical nest heights are 50-125 feet high. They make use of twigs, grasses, soft mosses and feathers in making their nests and normally return to the same nest each year during breeding season and add new materials to it. A new eagle pair’s nest usually measures about five feet in width and two feet in depth. As they add to it year after year, however, it can reach widths of over ten feet and weigh up to a ton or more. On the Channel Islands, where large trees are very scarce, Bald Eagles have built their nests on cliffs; and, in some coastal areas of Alaska and Canada where there are few tall trees, Bald Eagles will nest on the ground, using whatever materials are available.