A female bald eagle found a home at the Detroit Zoo after sustaining an injury that prevents her release back into the wild.
The 1-year-old bird suffered an injury to her right wing when a strong windstorm in June 2017 knocked over the tree on Harsens Island that held her nest.
Harsen, named after the island, was rescued by Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers and taken to Michigan State University's veterinary hospital for surgery and rehabilitation. She arrived at the Detroit Zoo in late December.
"Despite her injury, Harsen is healthy and energetic," said Scott Carter, chief life sciences officer for the Detroit Zoological Society. "We are happy to provide a habitat where she can be with other eagles and receive the care she needs."
Harsen joins two rescued male bald eagles, Flash and Mr. America, in their American Grasslands habitat. Flash came to the zoo in 2009 after sustaining a wing injury in Alaska, and Mr. America arrived in mid-November from southern Indiana after a wing injury.
Although Harsen is the youngest bird in the habitat, she already outweighs one of the males at 8 pounds.
“Female bald eagles tend to be bigger and more assertive than males, so she might just become the ‘boss’ of that habitat,” said Carter.
Detroit Zoo visitors can identify the newcomer by her completely brown head. Bald eagles do not grow their top white feathers until between the ages of 5 and 6.
