THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512150246
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Mary Reid Barrow
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
An irresponsible and insensitive hunter took aim at the young bald eagle and fired the shotgun. In an instant, the pellets broke the eagle's left wing, pierced its jaw and lodged in a joint at the tip of its right wing.
And this eagle was one of the lucky birds of prey that fall victim to happy-go-lucky hunters in the fall. The bird was brought in to Dr. Evzen Burian, a veterinarian at Providence Square Veterinary Clinic, who has an orthopedic specialty. Burian, an avid falconer in his native Czechoslovakia, also has become an expert in treating birds of prey.
The good doctor, who cares for raptors free of charge, set the wing and cleaned the eagle's wounds. The next day, the big bird was up on an examining table. It was being prepared to be sent off to the Wildlife Center of Virginia near Waynesboro, where there are rehabilitation facilities for large raptors.
``I think the prognosis is good,'' Burian said, as he and his wife, Chrys, cleaned the eagle's feathers and beak. ``It's a clean break.''
If spunk has anything to do with recovering, the bird was well on its way. Feisty as could be, despite its crippled, bandaged wing, the eagle charged Burian when given the chance. For the most part, the doctor kept an iron grip with his gloved hand on the bird's strong talons.
This immature, 2-year-old has not yet developed the striking white head and tail of an adult eagle. Its body is still streaked with brown and white, but there was no mistaking the regal head of an eagle.
``It's a beautiful creature,'' Burian said. ``It's a shame someone shot him - the American symbol.''
Burian thinks a young eagle may have more of a chance to be shot, because its coloring isn't like that of a mature eagle. ``Also a mature eagle would take off faster if he saw a hunter,'' Burian said.
The bird was shot near Yorktown, and Burian urged the public, if anyone knows anything about the shooting of this eagle or any other bird of prey, to contact him or Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, which is responsible for enforcing hunting laws.
``The vast majority of hunters are responsible and would not kill randomly, but it only takes one or two,'' Burian said, ``young and irresponsible with poor self-control.''
The Burians notice an increase in wounded birds of prey during hunting season. The couple had just returned from a month's vacation out of the country when the eagle arrived at the clinic. The last bird Burian treated before they left was an osprey.
``Shot! An osprey!'' he said indignantly.
Chrys Burian went through her record book and said they had treated about 10 birds of prey for gunshot wounds over the past several years. But 50 or more hawks had wing fractures with the bones exposed and were in such bad shape they had to be euthanized.
``Many of these could have been shot, too,'' Chrys Burian said.
As they talked, the two continued to work with the eagle. With a pair of forceps, Chrys Burian was force-feeding the bird with pieces of fish. The big bird accepted the fish willingly, once the pieces were in its mouth.
Recovery will take a while for the young eagle. ``The birds are athletes,'' Chrys Burian explained, ``and they must go into training to fly again, the way a football player has to go back into training after an injury. They have to be exercised.''
So off the regal eagle went to Waynesboro, ignominiously in a big cardboard box.
``Bye-bye, big boy, I hope you will make it,'' Burian said. ``I'd like to see you fly.''
P.S. THREE RED-TAIL HAWKS in this area also have been recent victims of hunters who were on a spree. Wildlife Response volunteer Lisa Barlow was able to treat one and release it but the other two had to be euthanized because their wounds were so severe.
THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT HAS hit most of the resort. When you visit Holiday Lights on the boardwalk, keep your eyes peeled for all the other wonderful lights. Many hotels, shops and restaurants are lit for the holidays, too. MEMO: What unusual nature have you seen this week? And what do you know about
Tidewater traditions and lore? Call me on INFOLINE, 640-5555. Enter
category 2290. Or, send a computer message to my Internet address:
mbarrow(AT)infi.net.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARY REID BARROW
Dr. Evzen Burian, a veterinarian at Providence Square Veterinary
Clinic and an avid falconer in his native Czechoslovakia, repaired
this young eagle's broken wing and other injuries from a shotgun
blast.
by CNB