Rehabilitated bald eagle to be released

There will be a chance for people in this area to see a majestic bald eagle up close and personal at 1 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Millwood State Park Pavilion, 1564 Highway 32 East, Ashdown, Ark.

The eagle, a female named Wind Walker, is being released back into the wild by Tommy Young, master falconer and director of the Arkansas Native Plant and Wildlife Center located in Mena, Ark. Young will also speak to those in attendance about what’s going on in the eagle world and wildlife.

“Th is will be the 147th eagle release and the 95th bald eagle release. In all he’s released more than 80,000 animals and birds back into the wild,” said Lyn Dilbeck, promoter for the wildlife center. “The whole idea is to try to get the public involved.”

Wildlife re h a b i l - itation and conservation is a passion for Young who’s been a rehabber for 33 years.

“I was 14 when I started working for the Game and Fish Commission to become a rehabber,” Young said.

Young, who’s paid for most of the rehab program through his construction job, is on a mission to teach people more about nature.

“It’s very rewarding but it’s a lot of work. I invite the public to these releases because most will never get to see a bald eagle point blank. … This is a big female. All female birds of prey are a third larger than the males. They’re bigger and stronger

and that’s so if she has chicks and the male comes back with food but doesn’t want to give it to her, she’s tough enough to take it away. A third bigger doesn’t sound like a lot but when you’re looking at it side-by-side, it’s significant,” Young said.

Young said most of the birds he rehabs are brought to him by game wardens.

“Eagles are endangered, protected and threatened. All birds are endangered now. We’ve lost two-thirds of all the birds on the planet the last 15 years. It’s everything from power lines to loss of habitat, poison in mice and toxins in the environment,” Young said. “Toxins in the environment are really working on them.”

Young is doing is his part to help the animals of Arkansas and hopes to inspire people around the state to do theirs.

The Arkansas Native Plant and Wildlife Center, a non-profit organization, is a three-acre property located at the base of Rich Mountain at the intersection of Highway 270 and Highway 272. It’s closed to visitors during the winter months but will open to the public in April. The center receives no local, state or federal funds and is dependent on donations from supporters. For more information about making a donation or the center call 479-4373750 or visit arkansasnativeplantandwildlifecenter.org.