On a cool May morning Amber Hecht received a Mother’s Day gift she never expected... 

The sun had just risen at 6:00 a.m. when the family dog needed a bathroom break so Amber and her husband Otto decided to take a walk with the dog down to their dock on the Potomac River. The morning light was still casting a few lingering shadows but the couple could clearly see a mature American Bald Eagle on their dock. The eagle appeared to be struggling and could not fly. The dog started barking and the eagle tried to fly but could not get any further than a branch sticking out of the river. Amber took the dog back into the house, while her husband called the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office for an Animal Control officer.

The Hecht family with "Steve" the eagle and Ed Clark

The family kept an eye on the big bird until Officer Anthony McCall arrived on the scene. Officer McCall, with the help of Mr. Hecht, was able to flush the eagle to the bank and then safely capture it. Although the temperature was just a little warmer than average, the water was still a quite cool in the early morning hours. Getting wet on a spring day with the temperature hanging 62 degrees takes true dedication. The entire Hecht family, Otto, Amber and their three daughters; Hannah, Angelina and Analise, were able to see the eagle up close while Officer McCall had it secured.

They affectionately named the eagle “Steve”. Only later to find out, amusingly so, that the eagle is female! Ha! But, l personally like the name Steve for a girl. Makes me think of Stevie Nicks!  So Steve the eagle waited not so patiently for the next step in her journey.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries were called and an officer was tasked with transporting the eagle to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro for evaluation and medical treatment.

Once at the Wildlife Center Dr. Meghan Feeney, the Center’s veterinary intern examined the bird when she arrived. The eagle was bright, alert, feisty, and had no obvious injuries.

      On physical exam, Dr. Meghan found that the eagle had a broken talon and several superficial foot lacerations, but no other injuries were noted. Blood work was within normal limits, and no fractures were noted on radiographs.

Dr. Meghan placed the bird in the Center’s holding room for the night after giving her fluids.

The eagle was given a number to identify her, Bald Eagle #15-0642, as treatment and care were continued until the eagle was released at Widewater State Park in Stafford County on August 26, 2015.

Ed Clark with aka "Steve" right before he released him

Ed Clark, President & Founder, and Randy Huwa, Vice President, along with veterinary staff from the Wildlife Center of VA arrived at Widewater around 11:30 a.m. to begin the process of releasing the now recovered eagle back into the wild. VDGIF had previously fitted “Steve” with a GPS transmitter and will be referred to in tracking updates as W20. The “W” represents Widewater, where the bird was rescued and released. The numbers are the last two digits on the transmitter. Each transmitter has a five-digit number written on the side of it in permanent black marker so that the eagle can be identified at a distance. Please click here to track W20 aka Steve.

And I am, admittedly, a little star struck by Ed Clark. He is so impressive, knowledgeable and personable. He has done so much for wildlife and the environment that this story would turn into a novel if I were to list all that he has accomplished. What he and the staff have done at The Wildlife Center of Virginia never ceases to impress and inspire me.

There is so much more to this story than just saving the life of a marvelous animal. Lives were touched and maybe even changed just a little that day. The Hecht’s daughter will never forget helping an injured wild bird and seeing it through, monitoring its progress until it could go home again. I know for myself it's something I have seen many times but never get tired of seeing. 

      It truly lifts my soul and gives me great pride to know that so many different entities can pull together to do something so astounding.

All those people gathered there on the spot that will one day become an incredible state park, pulling for a creature that without the contributions of many would not have made it to see another day.

Eagle tour at Caledon State Park

If you are an “eagles” fan but missed the eagle release, many of our beautiful Virginia State Parks offer paddling programs and eagle viewing. Caledon State Park, Leesylvania State Park, Westmoreland State Park and Mason Neck State Park along the Potomac River just to name a few. Mason Neck State Park even has a festival in April every year dedicated to eagle.

Standing there on the banks of Aquia Creek, looking at the trees, wildlife, sky and water, it hit me with the full realization that Widewater State Park is something so very special and will continue to grow and become an important and essential part of the Virginia State Parks system.

Park Manager Karen Lambey and Ed Clark

***Please note while sections of hiking trails at Widewater State Park is open to the public, parking areas have not yet been established so access is very limited.  For more information on Widewater State Park, please contact Leesylvania State Park. Phone: 703-730-8205; or email here.

There is an eagle release scheduled at York River State Park Thursday! We are adding this to the end as we just heard about it today - click here to RSVP to this event on September 10, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. if interested.