SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI (KMOX) - The orphaned eaglet raised by Murphy the Bald Eagle at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis has flown the coop. A crowd of several hundred supporters cheered as Sanctuary staff tossed Eaglet 23-126 into the air by the banks of the Mississippi River, and it flew into its new life.
31-year-old Murphy became a global social media attraction in the spring when he began incubating a rock as if it were an egg. The Sanctuary staff saw this as an opportunity to see if Murphy would adopt a 2-week-old orphaned eaglet, and he did. Social media viewers watched video postings of the young bird being raised, until it was old enough to set out on its own (see link below).
A statement released by the Sanctuary said, “Today is a wonderful day for Murphy, for the Eaglet and for everyone associated with the World Bird Sanctuary,” said Executive Director Roger Holloway. “We firmly believe that Murphy’s exceptional care, attention and nurturing has equipped this young eagle with the necessary skills to thrive in his new community here along the Mississippi.”
V video footage of the release is available here
The World Bird Sanctuary also unveiled a fundraising campaign for a new foster center at the Sanctuary’s hospital in honor of Murphy, and the orphaned eaglet and Murphy’s Rock. Details are at www.worldbirdsanctuary.org