Paddling along the calm waters of the South River in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, a kayaker sensed something odd watching him from deep within the reeds.
At first glance it seemed like nothing more than movement among the plants, but a closer look revealed a presence that would set an entire rescue into motion.
What he saw was only the start of a surprising and complicated operation that no one had anticipated when the day began.
A Wounded Bird Concealed Near The Shoreline
On that same day, longtime bird rescuer Donna Cole received a serious alert. A bald eagle had been struck by a passing vehicle on a nearby highway and was in distress.
A Maryland police officer was already on site, arriving before anyone else. He quickly directed drivers away from the area and followed the struggling eagle as it wandered from the roadway toward the river for cover.
By the time Donna made it to the scene, the eagle had slipped away out of sight into a messy, hidden section of growth crowding the shoreline.
“It was a deeply wooded area with a lot of bramble, sticky bushes that made it impossible to get the eagle and then bring it back,” Donna told The Dodo.
After assessing the situation, she realized that navigating that rough terrain on foot would be next to impossible, so the only realistic approach would have to come from the water instead of land.
Calling For Backup On The Water
Donna reached out to John Flood, a board member with the Arundel Rivers Federation, hoping that he might be able to help with access by boat. John did not hesitate, offering his assistance right away.
“John was pretty much immediately up for this adventure,” Donna said.
They began traveling along the South River, keeping their eyes close to the banks and vegetation.
At one point, they spotted the injured eagle again, but almost instantly, the bird vanished once more, slipping back into the tangle of branches and brush.
The afternoon heat grew stronger as they kept searching, working tirelessly from the water.
The dense vegetation slowed them down repeatedly, and after spending hours attempting to reach the hidden raptor, they had to end the day and return later.
Just when Donna arrived home to prepare for another attempt, she received an unexpected call from the Owl Moon Raptor Center. A kayaker had seen the eagle again, this time on the opposite side of the river.
Donna described the timing by saying, “It was like two miracles, that the police officer was able to find the eagle the first time, and that the kayaker was able to find the bird the second.”
The Eagle Finally Gets Help
Determined not to lose track of the bird again, Donna and John immediately organized a second effort to reach him.
Donna described their mindset, saying, “John and I were both like, ‘Okay, we’ve got to do this’. We’ve come this far. We’ve got to get this bird the help it needs.”
They met with the kayaker, who remained near the eagle’s location until they arrived. John steered the boat slowly into a shallow spot so Donna could move toward land.
She stepped out and waded through thick mud nearly up to her knees. With careful movements, she reached the injured bird and managed to secure him safely, though she left behind one of her shoes in the swampy ground.
Once the eagle was finally in their care, Donna and John transported him to the Owl Moon Raptor Center so he could receive immediate treatment and rehabilitation.
Donna expressed deep appreciation for everyone who helped make the effort successful, reflecting on how difficult it had been from start to finish. She summed it up by saying, “This was the longest, the most impossible rescue I’ve ever done. It was such a relief to finally get this bird.”