Regal eagles inspire visitors in Alaska - Airman World - Brief Article

Airman, Feb, 2002 by John B. IV Dendy

ELMENDORE AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - After five years as a bald eagle cage volunteer coordinator, Staff Sgt. Larry Shoemaker prepared a supreme "flight meal" for three chums on his last workday.

His salmon portions were super-size sushi strips a la Shoemaker. There was raw chicken on a driftwood slab for this farewell meal too. Such formality suited his three regal guests -- disabled bald eagles. Loose silver eagle feathers flew like dust as they attacked and transferred their chewy chopped salmon from talons to tummies.

The bald eagle cage is an Air Force sanctuary for three spunky, hobbled eagles. The big birds wouldn't survive in the wild, but they can "wing it" here in safety.

Although elusive to humans in their natural environment, the charismatic Elmendorf trio of Rocky, Notch Wing and Lady became the most popular fauna on base when they "joined" the Air Force. Shoemaker nursed Notch through an appalling bout with botulism three years ago. He could feel Notch's heartbeat as he held him during the health scare.

"I spent hours comforting him, saying 'I'm here for you, big guy,' "Shoemaker said.

"He was out of it then, but I wouldn't hold Notch now." The disabled, silver feathered bird with soft red salmon flesh sloughing from his razor-sharp claws was nobody's cuddly pet, especially at breakfast time.

With Shoemaker gone to another base, other volunteers like Master Sgt. Darlene Gill have entered the coop.

She gets flush from the rush of feeding the three wild-but-disabled giants. Airmen donate elk and halibut meat, a predator's surf and turf, to feed these eagles. Despite captivity, these majestic birds haven't forgotten their wildland table manners. They wash their food before every meal.

"I have a fondness for them." Gill said. "They are our national symbol. We can see and feed the eagles close up."