C-52 - Indiana's Resident Bald Eagle
This story begins in southeast Alaska in the Tongass National Forest. In one nest on Couverden Island, one egg was laid and hatched in June of 1988. As the hatchling grew, no one could guess the fate of this eaglet. In late July of 1988, staff from the U. S. Forest Service, Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game & the U.S. Fish & Wildlife came to Couverden Island and gathered this lone eaglet along with others from other nests well for the Indiana Eagle Reintroduction program.
Tagged with a Federal I.D. # on his right leg and Indiana # C52 on his left leg, this male was translocated on July 26th of 1988 by Delta Airlines to Indiana, where he began his life as a Hoosier Eagle, just 43 days old.
7/27/88 C52 was transported to Lake Monroe Hack Tower and released in cage or cell A with cell mates C43 & C44. In their new "nest home", the young were fed & watched & monitored to prepare them for release into the backwater area of Lake Monroe.
8/27/88 Observations of eagles flapping their wings, getting their strength to fledge or take flight, indicated by the observation notes that trouble was observed with bird's right wing.
8/28/88 C52's right wing was examined and on 8/31, he was removed from the cage.
9/1/88 Sent to Raptor Rehab & Research Center in Minnesota for further tests and evaluations. Staff determined that C52 was not releasable due to a genetic defect to right wing and could never flex his wing to fly.
9/88 Patoka received notification of this non-releasable bird.
11/88 Patoka Lake Visitor Center applied for bald eagle permits with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife.
12/88 Patoka receives the necessary permits to utilize Eagle C52 in interpretive & educational programs
1/23/89 Bald Eagle C52 is transported from Minnesota to Indianapolis where DNR, Patoka Lake staff, transport him to his new home, Patoka. The Visitor Center staff cares for C52, providing safe shelter at night, programs by day, food, guaranteed health complete with bi-annual veterinarian visits.
12/29/2002 Bald Eagle C52 is now 14 1/2 years old and doing as well as can be expected in captivity and not able to fly. He continues to delight thousands of people each year in interpretive programs & daily viewing opportunities at the Visitor Center. Food is provided by folks fishing Patoka who bring their catch to the V.C. as well as the DNR, Division of Fish & Wildlife.
10/6/2009 Bald Eagle C52, resident raptor at DNR Patoka Lake died October 6, 2009. Through 20 1/2 years with the Interpretive Services, thousands of people were able to view this wild bird of prey up close, learning about eagles and the successful return of nesting activity to Indiana.
For more information regarding eagles please contact: Patoka Lake Visitor Center * 3084 N. Dillard Rd. * Birdseye IN 47513 * PH. 812.685.2447
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