Kim found the release of her eagle to be a bittersweet moment. Coyotes. To enhance the educational experience, a moderated chat is embedded on the cam page, allowing viewers to comment and ask questions about the eagles. Sir Hatcher II and Lady Independence built a new nest in 2019 (nest #5), but its exact location has not yet been discovered. Patrick wasn’t the only good Samaritan to find an eagle in need of help. A recap of last season can be found here. A very special couple recently returned to the Smokies to raise a family: a pair of bald eagles known as “Lady Independence” and “Sir Hatcher II.”. Two Rehabilitated Bald Eagles Released on Douglas Lake in the Smoky Mountains. In 2019, Lady Independence and Sir Hatcher II built yet another nest and two eaglets were successfully raised and fledged from this new nest. This August, two of the area’s eagles were returned to the wild after undergoing months of rehabilitation with the American Eagle Foundation in Pigeon Forge. Then, thousands of viewers settle down to watch these babies grow and develop from downy bobble-heads to feisty and magnificent Eaglets, ready to take their first flight into what will be a steep learning curve of survival in the wild. This remarkable non-profit organization is dedicated to the rehabilitation, recovery, and breeding of bald eagles. Here in Sevier County, Kim Osborne discovered a battered eagle in her backyard. The eagle was suffering from a broken clavicle, probably the result of flying into a fence. Trail: Gregory Bald Trail. BOX 333PIGEON FORGE, TN 37868, Discord App – Basic to Advanced (video), Discord Invite for Smoky Mountain Eagle Cam. Sir Hatcher II appeared with Lady in 2018, and we do not know what happened to Sir Hatcher I. Watching America’s national symbol soar through the sky was “an incredible feeling” for Patrick. Nest #1 2012: aka “Kroger Nest” - collapsed while the adults appeared to be incubating eggs (Lady Independence would have been 4 yrs. I’ll start with the most obvious, the face of the Smokies, the black bear. “Challenger” is a non-releasable bald eagle who was trained by the AEF to fly over football stadiums, baseball fields, and other events. The bald eagle is one of the most majestic animals you can find in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains. Bryan Tompkins, biologist with U.S. This has been a hugely successful endeavor, and we have welcomed many classrooms with students of all ages. Fans of Dollywood may know of the AEF through the park’s Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, which provides a home to the organization’s non-releasable bald eagles. Both of the eagles owe their lives to the quick thinking and kindness of two ordinary East Tennesseans. This August, two of the area’s eagles were returned to the wild after undergoing months of rehabilitation with the American Eagle Foundation in Pigeon Forge. If you were at the nest site, looking up at the tree at night, you would only see light from the moon or stars. At night, an infrared light is turned on. Nest #4 2017: 3 eaglets raised in the nest. Gregory Bald. When you visit the AEF Headquarters in the Smokies, you can see Challenger in person. Lady Independence was hatched and raised by non-releasable Bald Eagle breeding pair Independence and Franklin at Dollywood and was then released into the wild in 2008 from AEF’s Hack Tower on Douglas Lake. Fish and Wildlife Service bands to their legs, so the eagles will be easily recognizable if they are ever in need of assistance again. Teachers across the nation have written us with glowing compliments about the positive impact this experience has had on their students. Before letting the birds go, the AEF attached U.S. For more information, read our blog about Challenger! The eagles cannot see this light – it is outside their visible spectrum of light. His area covers all of the mountains and some of the piedmont. Smoky Mountain Photos from Visit My Smokies, 4 Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Winter, Enjoy Smoky Mountain Winterfest 2020 from the Sky with a New Experience, Top 7 Shops and Restaurants in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for Dessert, 5 Interesting Facts About Douglas Lake to Know Before You Go, 11-Year-Old Girl Finds 475-Million-Year-Old Fossil in the Smoky Mountains, Where to Find the Best Douglas Lake Boat Rentals, Top 6 Things to Do When You Visit Douglas Lake. Nest Update. Nest was abandoned at the beginning of the 2019 season. Nest #3 2014-2016: – Nest was abandoned by the eagles after 8 eaglets were raised in this nest. The American Eagle Foundation sincerely appreciates the support of our Smoky Mountain cam partners. Nest #2 2013: aka “Kroger Nest” (in the same tree as Nest #1) - fell in a storm with two eaglets in the nest.