Community Corner

Golden Eagle Released Into Wild

Legacy, a young golden eagle, flew to independence and freedom for the first time at Wild Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park.

The Wild Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park released a young golden eagle into the wild for the first time last month.

The Wall Street Journal likened the event to graduating from “eagle college.”  The eagle, named Legacy, was born in a New York sanctuary to two injured eagles that couldn’t teach their offspring how to fly or hunt. Legacy returned to Missouri, where its mother, Cherokee, was born, to build up its strength and practice hunting the animals that will sustain it in the wild.

“With enough flight strength and proper development, she was released back to the wild successfully,” said Roger Holloway, director of facilities, in a video released on the Wild Bird Sanctuary Facebook page.

Find out what's happening in Arnoldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Legacy’s release—or her “graduation” from eagle college—marked the first time a golden eagle was released into the wild in 35 years, according to WIVB, a news station in New York.

Legacy weighed 11 pounds and had a wingspan of more than six feet, according to a KTVI-TV story about the release.

Find out what's happening in Arnoldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hawk Creek Wildlife Center in New York, where Legacy was born, thanked the Valley Park sanctuary for supporting Legacy.

“Thank you to all of our friends for supporting and joining us on this amazing journey,” the sanctuary said on Facebook.

If you want to try and spot Legacy or other eagles at Wild Bird Sanctuary, check out our .


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Arnold