This has nothing to do with dogs but it’s a beautiful story none the less!
I follow the Daily Dodo as it most frequently relays lovely stories about dogs.
But not always.
On the 28th May Lily Feinn wrote about the way that dozens of motorists avoided a bald eagle on the freeway and one in a particular, Dandon Miller, a motorcyclist, did much more than that. He saved her!
ooOOoo
Guy Sees A Bald Eagle Caught In Traffic — And Saves Her Life
“It was just amazing to hold that bird and for her to be calm like that.”
BY LILY FEINN
PUBLISHED ON 05/28/2019
Dandon Miller’s favorite piece of clothing is a red and black flannel. He’s had the shirt for eight years and wears it all the time — but he never thought it would one day come in handy when saving a life.
On Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, Miller was on his way home from Philadelphia when traffic slowed in front of him. Miller pulled his motorcycle off to the side of the two-way highway and was shocked when he realized what was causing the traffic jam.
“I looked down to see why everyone was stopping and there was a bald eagle in the middle of the road,” Miller told The Dodo. “Another person was there and they kind of nudged her a little bit to see if she would walk off the road or fly away. She spread her wings open and was not going to go anywhere.”
An avid animal lover, Miller knew he had to help the injured bird get out of harm’s way.
The large animal was too hurt to fly, but her powerful talons were reason enough for Miller to take off his favorite flannel and throw it over her. To Miller’s surprise, the eagle remained sedate as he wrapped her in the shirt.
“I picked her up and she was very calm,” Miller said. “She got a little worked up when people started wanting to take pictures, but we were able to get that under control.”
Once Miller moved the eagle out of the road, he called 911 and eventually got in touch with Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, a local rehabilitation center for wild birds. Miller held the 15-pound bird for about 45 minutes while waiting for rescue staffers to arrive. But the time seemed to pass quickly.
“I wasn’t really thinking about it when I was holding her,” Miller said. “I was just trying to keep her calm and make sure she knows she’s secure, and I wasn’t going to drop her or anything.”
“It was just amazing to hold that bird and for her to be calm like that,” Miller added. “Just amazing.”
After a few days of treatment, the rescue is confident that the bald eagle will eventually be able to be released into the wild.
“She had a mild injury to one eye and soft tissue injuries, but no broken bones,” Rebecca Stansell with Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research told The Dodo. “Her wounds were treated by our wildlife veterinarian while the eagle was under anesthesia. The unexpected can always happen, but we are optimistic that she will make a full recovery.”
As for Miller’s favorite flannel, it has certainly seen better days.
The shirt now has a few large talon holes in it, but Miller knows it was for the best cause — and he will definitely be wearing it again.
To help the bald eagle get the care she needs, you can make a donation to Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research.
ooOOoo
I can’t really imagine what it felt like to hold that eagle in your arms for 45 minutes. Especially with all the traffic rushing past. But for sure it felt more than amazing. A beautiful wild eagle!
One can’t have too many opportunities to meld with the natural world.
Wonderful story!
This was a great story that takes place in my old stomping grounds of Philadelphia. It was amazing the way that man kept the eagle calm while holding her.
LikeLike
Utterly amazing, Susan. I’m sure that feeling will never leave Dandon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dandon Miller – you are a hero! Wonderful story. I bet this will stay in his memory as one of the ‘best moments of [his] life’. It certainly would for me.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/31/what-was-the-honestly-best-moment-of-your-life-not-including-babies-or-that-weirdy-you-married
( Scroll down to see the 1042 contributions – quite a few relate to animals)
LikeLike
For sure, Margaret. By the way that Guardian link requires one to log in before the list of comments may be seen.
LikeLike
Wingtastic 🐾💜🐾
LikeLike
Lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
WOW! Such an uplifting story. Thanks Paul!
LikeLike
Isn’t it just, Val. A beautiful, uplifting story!
LikeLike
Such a beautiful story. 🦅Well done, Mr. Miller!
LikeLike
There must be thousands and thousands of people who would add to your thought and wish Dandon Miller well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a ‘goose bump’ story, considering how calm the Eagle stayed during her trauma. 🦅
LikeLike
Exactly Colette, a real “goose bump” story. One that says that the eagle somehow knew.
LikeLike
I have a friend with a similar story that did it end well. The bird ended up dying in the bird rescue’s care. I think the cause was West Nile virus. Glad your story ended up well.
LikeLike
That’s interesting. A warm welcome to this place and hope to see you again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. This is amazing, I have saved a few dogs, and David saved an owl once, but a bald eagle, that takes the cake
LikeLike
Welcome to this place and my apologies for being a little late in saying hi. I hope to see you again soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries, everyone is busy and yet we do more, by doing this too. Excellent article, we loved it. Makes me feel proud
LikeLike
Whoops, that sent before we was done, proud to be a helper, and proud for that guy.
LikeLike
Still lovely to hear from you!
LikeLiked by 1 person