MARYLAND : Ospreys Attack Eagle Released by Clinton

An immature bald eagle released at Patuxent River Naval Air Station to dramatize President Clinton’s visit got knocked out of the sky by four ospreys before the president had finished his Independence Day speech extolling the comeback of “our national symbol.” Officials kept the enthusiastic crowd of invited dignitaries, military personnel and environmentalists in the dark about the attack. The 3-year-old female eagle, nicknamed Freedom, was attacked about half a mile from where she was released. The eagle, who has a 6-foot wingspan, was fished out of the water by the Coast Guard and taken to a wildlife clinic, where she was recuperating from a slightly injured wing.