The Story of Sailor
By Tracy Bye
Born Free Wildlife Rehab

Sailor came to me in late June after being found on the side of the road near Mabel. Sailor is a glorious Golden Eagle. The couple who came across Sailor on the road were traveling home from a Native American conference. When they came upon this eagle and were able to walk up to him, they felt they were very blessed and it was a sacred moment. For they had just learned from the Native Americans about the importance and beliefs they have about eagles.

Every time I get an eagle in to be rehabilitated I feel this blessing also. They are so majestic and very stoic creatures. Golden eagles have the ability to break my wrist with their talons if they so desired. That is how much strength they have in each of their feet. However, the eagles I have had the pleasure of rehabbing have all been so gentle and kind with me. Sailor is one of these eagles.

Sailor and I bonded immediately. I could see he was very dehydrated and very skinny. As soon as he rested and got relaxed at Born Free, I made sure plenty of food was available to him. Within an hour he had eaten twelve mice. He soon realized I was there to help him and I was his source for food. Sailor began to let me stroke his head and chest with no threatening behavior. He loved to have his head stroked, it seemed to calm him.

Sailor is a young eagle, but of great size - both in heart and physical stature. I came to the conclusion that Sailor's only problem was that he had not learned how to hunt properly. My thought was that his mom was killed somehow and had not fully trained Sailor how to survive. Over a course of a couple of weeks Sailor became weak and hungry and that is how this couple came to find him on the road.

Sailor's strength grew incredibly in just a few days by eating well and feeling safe. My heart is happy because Sailor is now in the flight training cage on the front range with 12 other Golden eagles. I get daily reports of his progress and how he is an amazing flyer and he is learning to hunt like a pro.

Soon I will be able to bring Sailor home and release him back where he was raised by his wild mom. He will continue to bring blessings to our lives and beauty to our skies. I hope that in the short time I have with Sailor I can convey to him how thankful we are to have his kind in our world.

The Story of Sailor's Grand Finale

In a past NWCAAL newsletter I told you the story of Sailor. He is a beautiful Golden eagle that was brought to Born Free Wildlife Rehab in June of 1998. Molly and Steve Unfug were driving back from an Indian Pow Wow and saw Sailor on the side of the road. They believed they were given a great gift in being able to see Sailor and then an even greater gift in being able to assist him.

Sailor was not injured, only very dehydrated and hungry. It is my belief that Sailor's mom was killed and he had not been taught how to hunt properly. After coming to Born Free he was fed and given tender loving care. Soon thereafter he was ready to learn how to hunt. I took him to the flight cages I use on the front range at The Birds of Prey Rehabilitation facility. Sailor spent the winter in the flight cages learning how to hunt and take care of himself from the mature eagles that were rehabbing there.

Sailor's grand finale took place in June when he came back to Steamboat and I released him. However, the story behind this story is what makes it a grand finale.

Molly and Steve have studied Indian beliefs for many years. They believe that Golden eagles are great messengers for they have learned this fact from their Indian friends. Sailor was their messenger of good news - they found out Molly was pregnant.

Molly had a hard pregnancy. Their son, Keenan, was born in December even though his due date was in March. They went through many hardships before Keenan was born, but after he was born was even more difficult. Keenan never was able to leave the ICU and he ate through tubes. Molly and Steve spent every day in the hospital. Keenan died when he was one hundred days old.

Molly and Steve had a strong belief that Keenan's spirit was connected to Sailor's. They kept in touch and when Sailor was able to be released, they wanted to be there.

They flew to Denver from Georgia and drove to Steamboat. We released Sailor on a beautiful summer afternoon with blue skies and puffy white clouds. As Sailor gracefully soared back to freedom he cawed his appreciation to us. As we were watching him dive and soar and dart through the skies of the Yampa Valley, we began to notice other eagles coming and flying with him. In the end a total of five Golden eagles came to fly with Sailor. It was an unbelievable moment that was filled with awe and with sweet sorrow.

As Molly, Steve, and I cried with the beauty of this moment and the knowing of Keenan's spirit soaring with his messenger into the heavens, I understood what an incredible gift animals are to our world and to our souls.

Sailor's grand finale helped a young couple deal with the death of their child and made me aware of what we take for granted each day. We can all learn from the messages the wild animals are trying to deliver, if we leave ourselves open to them.