COSTA MESA : Friendly Bald Eagle Will Visit Schools

A bald eagle that prefers to socialize with humans rather than other birds will visit three schools today in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

The eagle, named Buddy, was found in Alaska after being abandoned by people who had apparently raised him for a few months, said Sandy Smith of the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, a group which cares for injured birds of prey.

Smith said the bird had never learned to fly, and had to be taught by a trainer at the center. The process of imprinting, which normally bonds a young bird to its parents, triggered a bond with humans.

“Whatever their care-giver is, it considers that their species for the rest of their life,” Smith said of Buddy’s bond to humans. “He’s comfortable sitting in a group with people, whereas a wild bird would not be.”

Buddy cannot be released to the wild because he doesn’t know what to do there, Smith said. He would have to return to humans for food and company. When Buddy built his first nest last year, he encouraged his trainer to build with him, Smith said.

Smith said Buddy is expected to live up to 50 years in captivity, surviving on a diet of fish and an occasional rat.

Buddy does not like to be touched by people other than his trainers, Smith said. The 5-year-old bird has a six-foot wingspan and weighs eight pounds, she said. The birds can grow to have a wingspan of eight feet.

The raptor group will bring the bird to The Kline School in Costa Mesa at 8:30 a.m., Principal Susan Kline said. The public is welcome to join students in the play area for the bird’s visit.

Later in the day the eagle will visit the Kaiser Primary Center and the Lincoln Elementary School in Newport Beach.