By LAUREN L. DILLARD
Of the News-Register

A male bald eagle was released Sunday from Elk Cove Vineyard after the avian icon was rescued from a wastewater treatment pond at Stimson Lumber Co. near Gaston.

"It looked like the eagle knew exactly where it was going as it flew off," said Pat Campbell, Elk Cove Vineyard owner and Portland Audubon Society board member.

On July 26, Stimson employee Ryan Grant found the eagle shortly after the company had drained the pond in preparation for dredging it. After drainage, the pond was left with between 4 to 6 feet of nontoxic "sludge," said the society.

Later that day, Audubon member Bob Sallinger and a Stimson's employee used a small boat and a long metal pole to reach the eagle, which was about 100 feet from the edge of the pond. The eagle had doubled its body weight with mud, said Urban Wildlife Specialist Karen Munday.

The eagle had a full-white head, indicating that it was over 5-years-old.

After being transferred to the Portland Audubon Wildlife Care Center and receiving multiple washings, the eagle was moved to the 100-foot flight cage to rebuild its strength. The eagle was treated for shock and exhaustion.

After 10 days, the eagle was released in front of an audience at Elk Cove Vineyard.

According to Munday, it is still mating season for eagles and it was important that it was released quickly. Because the Audubon Society was not sure which nest the eagle was from, it wasn't too important where it was released as long as it was in the same general area.

Elk Cove Vineyard, located two miles from Stimson's pond, provided a good place to make the release visible to the public. Campbell said there are at least 10 eagle nests in the area.

"It probably tried to land and got stuck," Munday said. "They are definitely in recovery and they are definitely a species that you see."

Less than a month ago, the Bald Eagle was taken off the Federal Endangered Species List.