Bald Eagle Gets Mouth-to-Beak Resuscitation

Bald Eagle - Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center - Girdwood AKThe return of America’s iconic bird from the brink of extinction is one of our country’s  best endangered species success stories.  It’s heartening to know that efforts to protect the bald eagle continue, and in some cases go to heroic lengths to do so.

Patriot, an injured bald eagle in Bend, Oregon, was undergoing physical therapy when it stopped breathing while under anesthesia. Vetrenarian, Dr. Jeff Cooney, calmly came to the rescue by administering mouth-to-beak resuscitation to the bird which quickly responded. We tip our feather to Dr. Cooney for performing a truly patriotic act.

Bald eagles are one of the most recognizable birds in the United States.  If you don’t remember what a bald eagles looks like, simply pull out a quarter or a dollar.  An eagle is shown on the back of the quarter and holding an olive branch and arrows on the one dollar bill.

Bald eagles are large, predatory raptors.  They are dark brown on the body and wings.  The head and tail are bright white. 

The feet and bill of bald eagles are yellow.  The bill is large and hooked at the tip.

Juvenile bald eagles look very different from the adults.  Young bald eagles are almost entirely brown with occasional white markings on the underside of the wings and chest.  As the juvenile gets older, the bill will turn from dark brownish-black to yellow and the head and tail turn white.

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Published: July 19, 2011