The sick baby eaglet removed from its nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden last month is still awaiting surgery to remove a growth from the side of its beak.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia is trying to get a commitment from one of four veterinarians contacted who specialize in avian surgery.
Meanwhile, the center reported that the growth - caused by avian pox, a viral disease - has shrunk. The left nostril, which had been pressed firmly shut by the mass, is now open and functioning, veterinarian Dave McRuer said.
For a short time, the eaglet was refusing food and had to be force-fed.
Since being admitted to the Waynesboro center, it has doubled its weight to nearly 5 pounds.
The nonprofit center is supported by donations from individuals, corporations and foundations. About $5,000 has been spent on the bird's care so far.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Baby Eaglet
The support this eaglet has received has been heart warming & encouraging! With all the bad news today, full of heartless people stealing & killing, to have such a wonderful news story of hope & healing, makes all of us better human beings. We are all God's children and deserve all the help we have learned to benefit even a baby eaglet! GO POINK! We're rooting for you! Love ya baby!
MY MONEY - I'll spend it how I chose !
This message is for all the naysayers out there...the ones who say to let nature be - Nature is cruel but human nature is crueller! I donate to human causes, children’s causes, cancer causes, animal causes, bird causes, and now to Poink causes. I earn my money honestly, and NO ONE, I repeat NO ONE is going to tell me how to spend my money, not even you! If YOU PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS and do some good in this world, this world could be a better place. We’re trying, but we can’t do it alone. And as long as your tax money isn’t being used, don’t fight us - JOIN US in helping the unfortunate birds and animals and human beings of this world.
Response
Laura, your concern for welfare of children is admirable but I'll suggest you should understand that what impacts nature and wildlife also impacts our children. It truly is the cycle of life and we're not alone on this planet. What we don't understand we will destroy, and we almost did with dumping chemical waste and pesticides! I say thank goodness we smartened up enough to study how we affect our planet and intervened. Monitoring our wildlife and environment assures a better future for our children.
One does not necessarily exclude the other.
POINK
The money I donated for the care and rehab of POINK, is something I feel very passionate about. I also volunteer at the Cleveland Food Bank, and I sponsor 2 Save the Children,which helps children in the USA get food, HEALTH CARE, and literacy programs.
I feel I am a better person by helping out and volunteering, it is my choice to also help out the animal kingdom, and am very proud of it.
Most of us who donate to POINK are kind and caring people, we happen to love animals as well as children.
Do not ever think we don't care, we care a lot about a variety of things, including both children and animals BOTH
Eaglet's Treatment
There are many programs in place to aid children in need. If taken advantage of no child need ever go hungry, sick or uneducated. We pay for these programs with tax dollars, insurance and generous donations.
The Wild Life Center of Virginia can only count on the latter. To not give this little eaglet treatment is to lose the opportunity for a wealth of research knowledge and to ensure that the eaglet loses his life. In a world where we have struggled to bring this species back from the brink of disaster to let one die that we can save is unthinkable!
No dollars are being taken from children to save this eaglet but to try to save him is offering children the opportunity to learn how valuable our world and her animals really are! The world is a much better place with eagles and all other wild life in it. I applaude the Wild Life Center of Virginia and all of the other organizations who give so much to save as many animals as possible. We need them all!!
Dana L
Response to Naysayers
For all of the naysayers, something to think about. Humans are responsible for much of wildlife's woes through pollution and land development. "Until we extend our circle of compassion to include every living creature we cannot enjoy 'World PEACE'." Albert Schweitzer. Don't berate those who choose to support this effort.
poink
The money being spent on this one eaglet has been donated by people in 50 states and 5 countries.
When people from that many places donate to children, yes it would be an ideal world.
Maybe we should ask for donations for children.
As of now we ask for donations to the Virginia Wildlife Center for the cost of helping one of the best ambasadors this region has.
Please
Nature should have been allowed to take its course. This money should be spent on the health of children.
Poink
Keep up the progress lil' guy! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and may you be soaring with your parents soon. You've done so much good already in such a short time and we thank you for that.