A little rough for the ride

  • Published
  • By Airman First Class Robby Hedrick
  • 75th Air Base Wing public affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  On June 27, during a hike in a narrow sandstone canyon at Lake Powell, 2nd Lt. Brady Lindberg, Ogden Air Logistics Center contracting, and friends stumbled across an injured eagle. 

The eagle had flown in between two narrow rocks and had become trapped between them. Every attempt to escape by the eagle wedged him farther and farther between the crevices of the rocks. 

Lieutenant Lindberg and his group, aware of potential dangers of the panicked Golden Eagle, decided to help free the eagle and did so by tying a rope around it and slowly lifting it out of the rocks. 

"I think he knew we were there to help," said Lieutenant Lindberg. "He was really calm." 

Cautiously and hesitantly, they wrapped the eagle in a towel. For added support they put a life jacket around him, said Lieutenant Lindberg. Getting the eagle back to safety required repelling down a 20-foot rock face. 

"I rappelled down first, and then the eagle was lowered down to me," said Lieutenant Lindberg. 

After receiving the eagle, Lieutenant Lindberg and company decided to see if the eagle could manage to fly on its own. They released him in a more open area, close to where the hike had began. 

They noticed that the eagle, affectionately named Cliff after the circumstance, had an injured left wing that prevented him from flying away. 

"The hike wasn't important anymore," said Lieutenant Lindberg. "None of us would have felt good leaving it behind." 

The crew decided to get Cliff back to the boat and take care of him until he could be turned over to the Arizona Fish and Game Department for rehabilitation. 

While on the boat Cliff behaved in a very docile manner, allowing others to pet him and even perch on their arms. 

Although Lieutenant Lindberg and others tried to feed Cliff, he refused but drank a considerable amount of water. 

In the room he kept on the house boat, Cliff had a demanding presence according to Lieutenant Lindberg. Cliff stood in a relaxed state approximately 20 inches tall and between 16-25 pounds. 

"When anyone entered the room with Cliff, they became silent in respect and awe for the majestic animal," said Lieutenant Lindberg. 

As the group transported Cliff back to Antelope Island Marina, they grew fond of him and respected him even more, said Lieutenant Lindberg. In just one day, the eagle had a tremendous impact on a small group of people. 

Upon arrival at their destination, Lieutenant Lindberg handed Cliff over to the game warden who informed him that Cliff's condition was likely to heal and the eagle would be returned to the wild.