NationStates Jolt Archive

I think that with this, I've heard everything. But oddly enough, I'm pro they do this.

ST. MARIES, Idaho (May 5) - She has been named Beauty, though this eagle is anything but. Part of Beauty's beak was shot off several years ago, leaving her with a stump that is useless for hunting food. A team of volunteers is working to attach an artificial beak to the disfigured bird, in an effort to keep her alive.

"For Beauty it's like using only one chopstick to eat. It can't be done" said biologist Jane Fink Cantwell, who operates a raptor recovery center in this Idaho Panhandle town. "She has trouble drinking. She can't preen her feathers. That's all about to change."

Cantwell has spent the past two years assembling a team to design and build an artificial beak. They plan to attach it to Beauty next month. With the beak, the 7-year-old bald eagle could live to the age of 50, although not in the wild.

"She could not survive in the wild without human intervention," Cantwell said.

The 15-pound eagle was found in 2005 scrounging for food and slowly starving to death at a landfill in Alaska. Most of her curved upper beak had been shot away, leaving her tongue and sinuses exposed. She could not clutch or tear at food.

Beauty was taken to a bird recovery center in Anchorage, where she was hand-fed for two years while her caretakers waited in vain for a new beak to grow.

"They had exhausted their resources and she would likely be euthanized," Cantwell said.

Beauty was taken in 2007 to Cantwell's Birds of Prey Northwest ranch in Idaho after permits were obtained from the federal government.

Soon after, Cantwell met Nate Calvin during a speaking engagement in Boise. Calvin, a mechanical engineer, offered to design an artificial beak. A dentist, veterinarian and other experts eventually volunteered to help.

Molds were made of the existing beak parts and scanned into a computer, so the bionic beak could be created as accurately as possible.

"One side has much greater damage than the other," Cantwell said. "It's not as simple as a quick, snapped-off beak, 90 degrees and flush."

The nylon-composite beak is light and durable, and will be glued onto the eagle.

The team decided against fastening the new beak with screws because the stump is so close to the brain and eye, Cantwell said. But if the glue fails, screws will be tried, she said.

The artificial beak won't be strong enough to allow Beauty to cut and tear flesh from prey. But it will help her to drink water, and to grip and eat the food she is given.

Cantwell has been using forceps to feed Beauty, who is often treated to strips of salmon.

A successful attachment of a prosthetic beak is rare but not unprecedented, said Dr. Julia Ponder, executive director of The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota.

"Not enough of these have been done out there to say, `yes, it can be done successfully,'" Ponder said. "Whether or not it will be functional is a question."

Dr. Erik Stauber of the nearby Washington State University veterinary hospital in Pullman does not have a lot of faith the artificial beak will work.

"It's a valiant effort to do something," he said. "We have no experience with it."

While birds of prey are notoriously skittish around humans, Beauty has become somewhat comfortable with people. She allows herself to be carried by Cantwell, and tolerate the poking and prodding by those making the beak.

"She laid on the table for nearly two hours, fully conscious, knowing full well I was handling and restraining her, and never once trying to escape," Cantwell said. "I suspect she knows we not trying to hurt her."

Beauty has the potential to breed or be a foster mother for orphaned eagles. Cantwell has other plans for Beauty as well.

"She's a miracle recovery patient from her initial injuries," she said. "She will be a huge educational tool, primarily to instruct people on why we should not shoot raptors and why they are beneficial to the environment.

"Give me an hour with a third or sixth grader and they will never shoot a raptor."

Shooting a bald eagle, though they are no longer on the endangered species list, remains a violation of federal law.

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/disfigured-eagle-will-get-artificial/20080505091109990001

Any thoughts, Generalites?

More effort has been spent on far less worthy efforts. In short, why the fuck not?

I think i need to eat healthier food...what?

I saw this on Discovery channel a little while ago. Being a huge fan of raptors, I'm all for it! It's a shame that Beauty won't be returning to the wild, but at least her quality of life in captivity will be improved.

What these people do: Raising wounded birds of prey, using them for educational purposes, it's what I've always wanted to do with my life. I'm choosing to pursue a more academic route for now, but.. It'll always be my dream.

I suppose I'm in favor of what they're doing, too, though it also strikes me as a tad extreme.

And...o.o; I amazed they sound so surprised that this eagle they've hand-fed for two years isn't skittish around them...

Just wanted to note that...

(^ useless post) ^^;;

I suppose I'm in favor of what they're doing, too, though it also strikes me as a tad extreme.


Ah, but it doesn't strike them as extreme because they've devoted their time and money and effort to caring for these birds. I'm sure any ability provided to them to mend injuries caused to a raptor would be a gift, however excessive it may look to other people.

More effort has been spent on far less worthy efforts. In short, why the fuck not?

Yeah, I'm in favor of the new beak too. It'll facilitate the life of this eagle a lot. I guess that's what counts.

Seems like a waste of time and money to me...it's just a bird.

Seems like a waste of time and money to me...it's just a bird.

A bird that clearly means a lot to certain people.

I'm disturbed at how quickly people wil accept the loss of their hard earned money over such stupid crap.


The government bassicaly takes your money, like a robber holding a gun to your back asking for your wallet. Now that robber goes and spends it on something idiotic like giving a bird an artifical beak.


How would that make you feel? Is it somehow better when the government does it then when an individual does it?

I'm disturbed at how quickly people wil accept the loss of their hard earned money over such stupid crap.


The government bassicaly takes your money, like a robber holding a gun to your back asking for your wallet. Now that robber goes and spends it on something idiotic like giving a bird an artifical beak.


How would that make you feel? Is it somehow better when the government does it then when an individual does it?

I would feel ecstatic since I'd willingly donate to such a project.

Though perhaps a better investment would be buying you a dictionary, since you don't quite seem to understand what the word "volunteer" means.

The eagle is a bald eagle, right? (I'm just going by the pictures.)
And the bald eagle is the national bird of America, so I suppose it could be important symbolically.

Actually, im surprised noone's tried to use this as in a campaign, maybe make a contribution to the project, and then shoot a film(no pun intended)for a commercial saying something along the lines of 'We need to fix America, just like Beauty the Eagle'....

Very noble cause though, im glad theyre actually trying to help the poor bird...just too bad we cant catch the fuck that shot her...

Though perhaps a better investment would be buying you a dictionary, since you don't quite seem to understand what the word "volunteer" means.
Yep, you should give me a hundred dollars and feel terrible. I'm poor, give me money...

Well I don't know why this is news but... Its good that there helping the Eagle...

Well I don't know why this is news but... Its good that there helping the Eagle...

I feel the same. Even if the bald eagle is the symbol of a nation I abhor. The eagle is a majestic animal and if there´s people out there trying to improve these animals´ quality of life, I congratulate them for such a magnificent effort.

I feel the same. Even if the bald eagle is the symbol of a nation I abhor. The eagle is a majestic animal and if there´s people out there trying to improve these animals´ quality of life, I congratulate them for such a magnificent effort.

Why do you abhor the USA?
Do you mean you abhor it's government?
Or that you actually abhor every person in the nation?

Eagles are okay and if some people take pleasure in helping them then good luck to them, but it's hard to shake off the association with the fact that they are just chickens who can fly higher.

Seriously, We're not bad people, our Governments just in the Shitter at the moment...

Spain's done some shit over here too, hell, it owned my little track of land for awhile, doesnt mean i dislike Spain...

we'll fix it pretty soon...Then its China's turn to be universally hated, lol...

Why do you abhor the USA?
Do you mean you abhor it's government?
Or that you actually abhor every person in the nation?

Eagles are okay and if some people take pleasure in helping them then good luck to them, but it's hard to shake off the association with the fact that they are just chickens who can fly higher.

I spent such horrible moments living in the US, I developed a complete intolerance for all things American. I wouldn´t say I hate every single person in that country, I just dislike what that place stands for.

I spent such horrible moments living in the US, I developed a complete intolerance for all things American. I wouldn´t say I hate every single person in that country, I just dislike what that place stands for.

Why do you hates our phreedoms?

*puppy dog eyes*

Why do you hates our phreedoms?

*puppy dog eyes*

*:fluffle:´s Seangoli*

Too personal.;)

I hate to say it, but i do believe youve opened up a can of worms...

an off-topic Can of Worms at that, lol...

I spent such horrible moments living in the US, I developed a complete intolerance for all things American. I wouldn´t say I hate every single person in that country, I just dislike what that place stands for.

ah that's understandable, but what does the place stand for?
corporations?
Poor government?
Bible thumpers?

what about it's advantages
Generally there's greater leniency to creative TV shows (as in sci-fi) that would never be contemplated in the UK,
the variety of people who stay in the US and overall freedom of thought.
I could also state that the extreme religious views don't form purely a religious function, but a social one too, because the US is full of different people and such a huge country it needs a binding similarity in it's people (now i don't advocate one mass religion for people), but with the crime over there one method to reduce it could involve christianity.

oh and one more thing, the US is really random.

The Religious views form an Extreme Faction in politics...Its one with considerable Power, especially in my neck of the woods...I really hate it actually, it needs to die, the Seperation of Church and State should be upholded...

That and the Corporate faction are forcing alot of our failed actions in the Middle East, and unfortunately theyve owned Washington for 8 years...

I have some hope thatll end in the future, but I also have no desire to intervene in Africa either, which is where we're likely headed...

Im hopin for a Hillary comeback, but its looking slim...

ah that's understandable, but what does the place stand for?
corporations?
Poor government?
Bible thumpers?

what about it's advantages
Generally there's greater leniency to creative TV shows (as in sci-fi) that would never be contemplated in the UK,
the variety of people who stay in the US and overall freedom of thought.
I could also state that the extreme religious views don't form purely a religious function, but a social one too, because the US is full of different people and such a huge country it needs a binding similarity in it's people (now i don't advocate one mass religion for people), but with the crime over there one method to reduce it could involve christianity.

oh and one more thing, the US is really random.

I hate the façade of freedom that is the US´s motto. I hate the empty promises of prosperity, I hate the rampant ignorance that is so visible there, from the youngest to the oldest. I hate the conformity, I hate the racism in a nation that was created out of mix peoples, I hate their Manifest Destiny. I just totally hate what the nation´s based upon. Pure lies.

And that´s all I will because this thread´s about the disfigured eagle, not about how much I like or dislike the US.

If they pay for it themselves, why not. To the OP, I abhor your nation now! Take that!

I just totally hate what the nation´s based upon. Pure lies.


Who's Isnt? The Spanish King once said his power was given to him Directly by God....


But, i dont intend to argue the point..off topic, and unwinnable....

Hopefully the Prosthetic works...

If they pay for it themselves, why not. To the OP, I abhor your nation now! Take that!

Do ask me if I give a flying hoot.:rolleyes:

Do ask me if I give a flying hoot.:rolleyes:

What's with the assumption that I care what you think?

Who's Isnt? The Spanish King once said his power was given to him Directly by God....


But, i dont intend to argue the point..off topic, and unwinnable....

Hopefully the Prosthetic works...

The King isn´t the authority anymore. Your President, however, is the authority figure in your country and he does believes (Bush Jr. should stop smoking weed) his instructions come from God himself so...

But agreed, this is off topic and undebatable.

I also hope the prosthetics help the eagle.

What's with the assumption that I care what you think?

Ah, but the sentiment is mutual, person.

Ah, but the sentiment is mutual, person.

That.....really couldn't matter less to me.

Edit: What, am I not deserving of the ebil Amerikkkanz title? Just person?

That.....really couldn't matter less to me.

You´re dismissed. Stop wasting my precious time and, if you´re not going to post something related to the OP, abstain from it. Your opinions, as of now, are worthless to me.

You´re dismissed. Stop wasting my precious time and, if you´re not going to post something related to the OP, abstain from it. Your opinions, as of now, are worthless to me.

Ahhh, your precious time, which you spend on NSG.:rolleyes: And dear, it was you who started the "I hate deh Amerikkkaz" spiel.

Ahhh, your precious time, which you spend on NSG.:rolleyes: And dear, it was you who started the "I hate deh Amerikkkaz" spiel.

Do you know how to read?
I wonder because I never said I hated Americans, I don´t hate Venezuelans or Colombians (surprise surprise, they´re American too!). I don´t hate Mexicans or Dominicans. I really like Argentinans and Bolivians. I said I hated the US, what the nation stands for. Not the same as saying I hate Americans, dear, not at all. The people aren´t to blame for the screw-ups of their government. Remember that.

Gah, I´m wasting my time arguing with you. As I already stated, you´re dismissed.

Do you know how to read?
I wonder because I never said I hated Americans, I don´t hate Venezuelans or Colombians (surprise surprise, they´re American too!). I don´t hate Mexicans or Dominicans. I really like Argentinans and Bolivians. I said I hated the US, what the nation stands for. Not the same as saying I hate Americans, dear, not at all. The people aren´t to blame for the screw-ups of their government. Remember that.

Gah, I´m wasting my time arguing with you. As I already stated, you´re dismissed.

Sorry dearest, don't get your panties in a twist, i'll just pretend that it wasn't you who broke away from the topic and started bashing on a nation and people.

Sorry dearest, don't get your panties in a twist, i'll just pretend that it wasn't you who broke away from the topic and started bashing on a nation and people.

Oh my gods, you just made me totally understand the meaning of dimwitted. Thank you, dearie. Thank you.

I hate the façade of freedom that is the US´s motto. I hate the empty promises of prosperity, I hate the rampant ignorance that is so visible there, from the youngest to the oldest. I hate the conformity, I hate the racism in a nation that was created out of mix peoples, I hate their Manifest Destiny. I just totally hate what the nation´s based upon. Pure lies.

And that´s all I will because this thread´s about the disfigured eagle, not about how much I like or dislike the US.

But it does in some states have more freedom than many other countries does it not?
I don't know how there were promises of prosperity,
ignorance, i can't really comment on.
what conformity do you speak of may i ask?
You have a point about racism created from the mix,
Manifest Destiny?

*reads last sentence*:(
sorry. I got carried away.

Sorry dearest, don't get your panties in a twist, i'll just pretend that it wasn't you who broke away from the topic and started bashing on a nation and people.

1) Why are you so worried about someone on an internet forum disliking your country?

2) As far as 'bashing on its people' I happen to know for a fact that she does not hate all Americans.

3) There are plenty of reasons for the rest of the world to 'bash on America', the U.S. is not anything special, except in a bad way for the last several years.

But it does in some states have more freedom than many other countries does it not?
I don't know how there were promises of prosperity,
ignorance, i can't really comment on.
what conformity do you speak of may i ask?
You have a point about racism created from the mix,
Manifest Destiny?

*reads last sentence*:(
sorry. I got carried away.

I´ll TG you later with my explanation.

I agree with you there, our governments a bitch...Dont take that guy as an example, we're not all fucktarded...

Consider yourselves collectively spanked, people. This is the silliest flamefest I've seen in quite a while.