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BaldEagleChallengerpaidavisittoBobthemorningofthereleaseoftheeaglet"Hatcher'sLegacy."

AEFPresidentAlCecere&BaldEagleChallengerparticipateinribbon-cuttingceremonyfornewField&StreamStore.

AlreleasestheGreatConciliator.

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October2014

AMemorialtoBobHatcher-ACherishedFriend&Conservationist

OnJuly22,2014theAmericanEagleFoundation(AEF)lostabelovedfriendanddedicatedsupporterwiththepassingofBobHatcher.

Bob Hatcher served as the Non-Game & Endangered SpeciesCoordinator for the Tennessee Wildlife ResourcesAgency from 1987to 2001, but served TWRA for a total of 38 years. HeinitiatedTennessee'sBaldEaglerecoveryeffortsintheearly1980s.

In the mid-80s,Al Cecere,Founder and President of the AmericanEagleFoundation,(est.in1985)cametoBobHatcherwithavisionanddesiretohelpsaveBaldEagles.Fromthatpointon,HatcherbecameamentorandclosefriendofAl,selflesslysharinghisguidance, wisdom,experience,expertise,andenthusiasmforBaldEagles.Hatcherisoneof the primary reasons the AEF exists today, having generouslyvolunteered thousandsofhoursoftimeandexpertisetothecauseforthreedecades.Hewasalso responsible forentrustingaone-year-oldBaldEagle to theAEF in1990after itwasdeemednon-releasablebyU.S.FishandWildlifeServices.Today,thiseaglegoesbythenameofChallenger.Haveyouheardofhim?

Bob was dearly loved and respected by family, friends, and conservation representatives all over Tennessee and thecountry.Hewastheepitomeofselflessness,integrity,patience,passion,andhumility.Hewentaboveandbeyondthecallofduty for thesakeofBaldEagleandendangeredspeciesconservation.Hewas alwaysabigpromoterof "symbioticrelationships," focusing on what people could achieve by working cooperatively together and sharing the credit. Hehumblyneveracceptedfullcreditthathisfriendsandcolleaguesallknewhesogreatlydeserved.

Inoureyes,heisaheroandalegacy.

OnJuly15th,theAmericanEagleFoundation,incooperationwiththeTennesseeWildlifeResourcesAgency,releaseda13-week-oldBaldEaglethatchedbyoneofAEF'snon-releasableBaldEaglebreedingpair,PeaceandFaithful.Thisspecialeaglereleasewasconductedtohonorandthank76-year-oldBobHatcherforhisdedicationinhelpingbringournation'slivingsymbol,theBaldEagle,backfromthebrinkofextinction.Thiseagletwasappropriatelynamed"Hatcher'sLegacy"(wingpatagialtagHL4).

Hundredsoffriends,familymembers,andcolleaguesgatheredatBellsBendParkneartheCumberlandRiverinNashville,TNfortheevent.HeartswereliftedasfamilyandfriendssharedstoriesandwordsofgratitudeandappreciationforBob.Bob'sfriendandcountrymusicentertainerJamesRogerssangamedleyofsongshehadwrittenaboutBaldEagles,including"Fly,Eagle,Fly."TheTWRAalsoannouncedthenewBobHatcherOrnithologicalFoundationScholarship.Eachyear,astudentwithanemphasisinornithologyandwildlifewillreceivetheaward.

Upuntiltheveryend,Bobheldsteadfasttothepositiveandupliftingattitudeheexhibitedhiswholelife.OnthemorningofthereleaseofHatcher'sLegacy,ChallengertheEaglepaidasurprisevisittoBobatahospiceinNashville.WhenChallengerflappedhiswings,Bob,knownbyhisfriendstohaveawonderfulsenseofhumor,smiledandsaid,"That'smybiggestfan."

Weareallyourbiggestfans,Bob.

OnJuly22nd,surroundedbyhisfamily,Bobpassedawayafterfightingayear-longbattlewithcancer.HeenjoyedwatchingtheDVDrecordingofthereleaseofHatcher'sLegacyduringthedaysprior.

inaclosingtribute,AlCeceresaid:"Therearenowordstodescribehowincredibleamanhewas.Heisalegacy.Hewillberemembered,missed,andcherishedalways.HeisanEagle...andnowhefinallyhashiswings."

ChallengerGoestoLasVegas-May14,2014

TheAmericanEagleFoundationanditstrained,non-releasableBaldEagleChallengerareofteninvitedtoparticipateinspecialcorporateevents,particularlyifthethemeispatrioticinnature.

Thisyear,theEconoLodgeHotelChainbyChoiceHotelsmarkedtheirnewbrandingandmarketingforthecomingyearwiththetheme,"America."BaldEagleChallenger-alongwithAlCecere,LauraJeanCecere-Sterbens,JuliaCecere,&ChristianKnatt-attendedtheeventinLasVegasandwowedthecrowdwithanotherflawlesseagleflight.

Whileinthearea,ChallengerandtheAEFteammadeaspecialappearanceattheLouRuvoCenterforBrainHealthinVegas.TheyalsovisitedagroupofstudentsattheAndreAgassiCollegePrepSchoolwhereChallengerdelightedahostofyoungsterseagertolearnabouttheBaldEagle!

AEFTeammembersChristianKnatt,AlCecere,LauraSterbens,JuliaCecere,andBaldEagleChallenger.

TheRegalEagleChallengeroutsidetheClevelandClinic,LouRuvo

CenterforBrainHealth.

ChallengerdelightsstudentsattheAndreAgassiCollegePrepSchool.

ChallengerFliesatBostonCollegeCommencement-May19,2014

The139thBostonCollegeCommencementtookplaceonMonday,May19,2014.ThefestivitiesbeganwithabreathtakingflyoverbytheAEF'strained,non-releasableBaldEagleChallengerduringtheNationalAnthem.SecretaryofStateJohnF.Kerry,agraduateofBostonCollegeLawSchool,wasthecommencementspeaker.

Thepageantryofsuchaneventissoul-stirringandinspirational,andtheAEFispleasedtohavebeeninvolvedinaceremonythatwillbelong-rememberedbythosewhoattended.

Duringapreviousyear,ChallengerflewduringtheAnthembeforethekickoffofaBostonCollegeFootballgame.

Clickonthevideobelow,whichfeaturestheNationalAnthembeingperformedbytheBostonUniversityChoralunderthedirectionofJohnFinney,whileChallengersoarsabovethestadium.

EagleChallengerMakesAppearancesOnMemorialDayWeekend-May25-26,2014

EveryMemorialDayweekendtheAmericanEagleFoundationteammakesitswaytoNewYorkCityandChicago.OnMay25th,AEFpresidentAlCecereandChallengertheEagleappearedontheFoxandFriendsTVshowinNewYorkCitytohonorthosewhohavelosttheirlivesindefenseofourfreedoms.ThenonMay26th,Challengerwasspectacular(asusual)duringpre-gamefestivitiesasheflewoverU.S.CellularFieldinChicagofieldduringtheNationalAnthem.Followingtheflyover,theChicagoWhiteSoxdefeatedtheClevelandIndiansbyascoreof6-2.

Fox&FriendsfeaturedAlCecereandChallenger. ChallengermakesaperfectlandingatChicagoWhiteSoxsgame!

AnUpdateofthe"KrogerEagleNest"2014BreedingSeason-Sevierville,TN

Since2011,photographerandAmericanEagleFoundationvolunteerJohnPricketthasphotographedawildadultBaldEaglepairandtheirnestonGovernorWinfieldDunnParkwayinSevierville,Tennessee,justafewmilesfromAEFheadquartersinPigeonForge.Havingawildnestinone’sareaisanhonorinandofitself,butthisnesthasanespeciallyuniquestory,becauseitturnsoutthatoneoftheseadulteaglesisthedaughterofourfamous,non-releasableresidentBaldEaglepair,IndependenceandFranklin!

IndependenceandFranklin'sstorybeganwhentheybothsufferedgunshotwoundstooneoftheirwings.Thesetwonon-releasableAlaskanBaldEagleswerelatertransferredtotheAmericanEagleFoundationin1994and1995wheretheyendedupbonding,mating,andproducingtheirfirstoffspringin2000.Sincethen,thispairhashatched29eaglets,whichhavebeenreleasedintothewildsofTennessee.

Threeyearsago,oneofIndependenceandFranklin'sfully-grownandmatureoffspringreturnedtotheEastTennesseeareawhereshefirstfledgedfromanartificialnestingtoweronDouglasLakein2007at13weeksofage.Thesignificantthingisthatthenestislocatedonlyafewmilesfromheroriginalreleasesite.Thiswasdiscoveredandconfirmedin2014byseveralhighresolutionphotographsofanumberedUSW&Flegband.Sheandhermatebuiltanestandhavelaideggsandraisedeagletsoftheirownforthepastthreeyears.Shehassubsequentlybeennamed“LadyIndependence”bytheAEFinhonorofhermother.

Nestbuildingrequirescarefulconstruction,asafetree,andabitofluck.Thisnesthasunfortunatelyseenmorethanitsfairshareofmisfortune.Duringtheirfirstbreedingseason,thenestwasblownoutofthetreeduringaseverewindstorm.Thesecondyear,thepairbuiltanothernestinthesametree,butonceagainastormdestroyedthenest,andboth6-week-oldeagletsfelltotheground.Oneeaglet,named"Winfield"wasrehabilitatedandreleasedthisyearwithinacoupleofmilesfromwherehismotherhadbeenreleasedasaneaglet.Thesecondeagle,namedAbraham,wasnotabletobereleasedduetoapermanentwinginjury,buthehassincebecomeaneducationalambassadorfortheAmericanEagleFoundation.

Thepair'soriginalnesttreewaschoppeddownbydevelopersduringFallof2013.ButduringSpringof2014thepairbuiltathirdnestinadifferenttreewithinamileoftheoriginalnesttree,andproduced2eaglets.Towardtheendoftheseason,anotherstormdamagedthatnest,butbotheagletswerefortunatelylargeenoughtowithstandthestormandsuccessfullyfledged!

PhotocollagebyJohnPrickettfromthe2014NestingSeasonforLadyIndependenceandhermate.L-Rtop:Aneagleperchesabovethenest;parentsexchangeplaceswhilebroodingtheeggs.

Parentbringsfoodtothenest(notebandonleg);Bottom:Aneagletfromthenestfledgesforthefirsttime.

"ScalyAdventures"TVShowFilmsEpisodeAtTheAmericanEagleFoundation

InMay2014,thehostandfilmcrewoftheup-and-comingTVshowScalyAdventuresvisitedtheAmericanEagleFoundation'sheadquartersinPigeonForge,TN.Whileatourfacility,theyfilmedtheAEF'sWingsOfAmericabirdsofpreyshowatDollywood,helpedfeedourpermanentlydisabledresidenteaglesinsideEagleMountainSanctuary,visitedourHackToweronDouglasLakewhereyoungcaptive-hatchedeagletswerewaitingtobereleasedintothewild,metthetrainedcelebrityeagleChallenger,andvisitedwithmanyofourotherresidentbirdsofprey.TheScalyfamilyconsistsofScalyDad,ScalyMom,andtheirsonPiercewhoallstarintheshowanddoalltheirownacting,filming,andproducing.Theyaresuchkindpeoplewithanamazingtestimonyoffaithanddriveinfulfillingthiscallontheirlives.

TheirprogramisshownonanumberofTVstations,butinparticular,theDaystarTelevisionNetwork.ScalyAdventurespresentspositiveandentertainingfamilyshowsandfocusesonhowyoungpeopleshouldinteractwith,carefor,andprotectanimals.Thegoaloftheshowistoencouragechildrentodreambigandtolivealifeofpurposeandpassion.

TheRegalEaglesepisode,whichisscheduledtobepresentedNovember8,2014willshowthefinishedproductoftheirvisit.PleasecheckyourlocalTVlistingsforexactdates&times.Youcanalsowatchtheshowonlineat:www.Daystar.com/watch

Tanya,Pierce,&RickCurren,StarsofScalyAdventures.

"ScalyFamily"visitedtheAEFHackToweronDouglasLakewithAlCecere&LauraSterbens.

TrainedeagleChallengerlandsperfectlyonLauraSterben'sglovedhand.

They'reBack!

EaglesMr.LincolnandChallengerAppearAtNewField&StreamStores

TheAmericanEagleFoundation'strained,non-releasableBaldEaglesChallengerandMr.Lincolnarebecomingquitewell-knownintheworldofField&Stream,anewchainofspecialty"greatoutdoors"storesbeingopenedacrosstheeasternUnitedStatesbyDick'sSportingGoods.

Field&StreamhaspartneredwiththeAEFtohelpthemcelebratethegrandopeningsofmoreoftheirstorelocations.Thestoreattractsthousandsofpeoplewhoareinvolvedinoutdooractivities.

OnJune13th,Mr.LincolndelightedhundredsofindividualswhomadeitouttotheirnewstorelocationinErie,PA.

OnSeptember5th,Mr.LincolnandAEFassistedField&StreamwiththeirstoreopeninginCary,NC,whileBaldEagleChallengerandAEFstaffmingledwiththecrowdandposedforphotosafewhundredmilesawayattheirnewlocationinColumbus,Ohio.

PartneringwithField&StreamhaspresentedwonderfulopportunitiestohelpeducatethepublicaboutconservingBaldEaglesandtheenvironment.

EaglesReleasedToHonorFormerSenatorHowardBaker

Ontwoseparateoccasionsduring2014,rehabilitatedBaldEagleswerereleasedbytheAmericanEagleFoundationinhonorofSenatorHowardBaker,whopassedawayonJune26,2014.

OnJune30th,theAmericanEagleFoundationreleaseda15-week-oldrehabilitatedjuvenileBaldEaglebackintoitsnestingareaatBearTraceGolfCourseinsideHarrisonBayStateParknearChattanooga,TN.Thisyoungeaglethadfallenoutofitsnestandwasinjured.ThosewhofoundtheinjuredeaglettookittotheUniversityofTennesseeSchoolofVeterinaryMedicineinKnoxvillefortreatment.TheUniversitythenplacedthebirdunderthecareoftheAEFforrehabilitation.

Afterasuccessfulrecovery,theAEFcrewtransportedtheeagletbacktoitsnestinglocationandreleaseditintothewild.Astheeagletflewupintotheair,itsparentswerealsoseenflyingby.Theeagletwasnamed"TheGreatConciliator"inhonorofformerTennesseeSenator,HowardBaker.

WatchvideofromChattanooga'sNewsChannel9'scoverageoftherelease.

OnAugust30th,atoneofthemostspectacularoverlooksinsideBigSouthForkParkinTennessee,theAmericanEagleFoundationreleasedarehabilitatedadultBaldEagleinmemoryofSenatorHowardBaker.Thiseaglewasgiventhename"Leader"inrecognitionoftheleadershipSenatorBakercontributedtohiscountry.

SenatorBakerwasagreatadmireroftheAEF'strainedBaldEagleChallengerandlovedphotographinghim.Onseveraloccasions,ChallengervisitedSenatorBakerathishomeinHuntsville,TN.OneoftheSenator'sphotosofChallengercanbefoundonourwebsite.

Accoladescontinuetoaccumulateforthisrareindividual,whoencouragedcivilityandcompromise,whilesecuringlegislativeresultsinCongress.Clickonvideobelowtowatchthereleaseof"Leader."

TheSagaOfTheEagleGlenda

"Glenda,"anon-releasableBaldEagle,nowhasaforeverhomeinsidethe"Pick-A-Mate"sectionoftheenormousEagleMountainSanctuaryaviaryatDollywoodinPigeonForge,TN.Glendacould"writeabook"abouthermanyadventuresbeforeshearrived.Torevealtheendingfirst,sheisenjoyinglife,surroundedbybirdsofherownkind.Sheisnoweatingwellandisingoodhealth.Butitwasn'talwaysthatway.

Let'sgobackintime:

InJune2012,aninjuredeaglewasrescuedandtakentoWashingtonStateUniversity'sVeterinaryHospitalinSpokane,WAfortreatment.Itwasthoughtthebirdhadingestedsomethingverytoxic,andthe

prognosiswasgrim.Wordofthebird'splightspreadquicklyfromSpokanetotheEastCoast-evenABC'sDianeSawyersharedGlenda'sstorywiththeworldinhernewsbroadcast.TheAEFimmediatelyoffereditsfacilitiesiftheeaglesurvivedandwasfoundnon-releasableduetoapermanentdisability.

InNovember2012,previouslygivenonlya30percentchanceofsurvival,Glenda(oncecalledGlenbeforediscovering"he"wasa"she")beattheodds,wasbandedandreleased.Forawhile,Glendadidokay.However,inAugust2013shewasonceagainfoundunabletofly(althoughwithafullcropoffoodandotherwisehealthy).ItwasdeterminedthatGlendahadarthritisinherwingandwouldnotbeabletosurviveinthewild.

GlendaarrivedattheAEFinApril2014,weighinginat11.6pounds.Afterbeinginquarantinefor30days,shewasallowedtogointothePick-A-MatesectionoftheEagleMountainSanctuaryaviaryatDollywood.Sheisanabsolutelygorgeouseagle,andisnowthelargesteaglethere!Perhapsintime,shewill"pickamate"andraiseeagletsofherown,whichtheAEFwouldreleaseintothewild.Welcometoyourhome,Glenda!

ReadmoreaboutGlenda.(PDFdocument.)

BaldEaglesLadyTalon&BattleForceReleasedInFoothillsOfSmokyMountainsOnJuly4th

OnIndependenceDay,two13-week-oldBaldEagletsiblings,"LadyTalon"and"BattleForce"(wingpatagialtagsJ4andK4),setanall-timerecordattheAmericanEagleFoundationforfastesthacktowerreleaseever!

Oneeagletwasreleasedtopaytributetoournation'sWoundedWarriors.Theothereagletwasreleasedinmemoryoftwofallensoldiers,Sgt.MajorBradleyConnorandSgt.JamesR.Henry.Theiryoungdaughterswereinattendancetohonortheirfathers.

BecauseitwasJuly4th,thereleasewasespeciallytouchingandpoignant.AswewatchedtheselivingsymbolsofourgreatNationspreadtheirwingsandflyfree,werememberedandcelebratedthosewholosttheirlivesorwerewoundedwhileservingtoprotectourpreciousfreedoms.

LadyTalonandBattleForcewerehatchedandraisedbytheAEF'snon-releasabledisabledBaldEaglepairIsaiahandMrs.JeffersonatDollywoodinPigeonForge,TN.

WBIRKnoxvilleprovidedthevideobelow.

PhotobyJohnPrickett-clickbuttontoplayvideo.

EagletHallmarkReleasedIntoWild

Forthepastfewyears,theAmericanEagleFoundationhasconductedacontestforitseaglenestcamChattersduringthesummertonameoneofitscaptive-hatchedeaglets.Thissummer,however,theChattersmadeaunanimousdecisiontoawardthishonortoChatterParkerAllen,wholostherfatherlastyear.Theeagletwasgiventhename“Hallmark”(wingpatagialtagH4)inhonoroftheU.S.ArmyCompanythatherfather,Col.DonaldLeeKeil,servedwithinVietnam.

HallmarkwashatchedinanincubatorattheAEFandlaterfoster-parentedbyBaldEaglebreedingpairVolunteerandHeroinsidetheEagleMountainSanctuaryaviaryatDollywood.

EagletsWilson,Agape,&CoachReleasedIntoWild

BaldEaglet"Wilson"(wingpatagialtagV4)washatchedandraisedbytheAmericanEagleFoundation'snon-releasablebreedingpair"Freedom"and"FaithfulSpirit."HewasnamedbyAEFVolunteerJohnPrickettinhonorofhisfriendRogerWilson,whowaskilledinbattleduringtheVietnamWar.

TheAEFreleasedtwoothereagletsthatcamefromnestsinFloridaandRoaneCity,Tennessee.Theywerenamed"Agape"and"Coach"(wingpatagialtagsF4andE4)inhonorofAEFBoardMemberCourtneyLewis'sfather,JuniusCourtneyLewis,andAEFBoardMemberJoeSpivey's

brother,JeffSpivey.

StarkeyHearingAidGala-WorldLeaders&CelebritiesGather"SoTheWorldMayHear"

OnJuly18,2014theAmericanEagleFoundationcrewandeagleMr.LincolnboardedSouthwestAirlinesforthefirsttimetotraveltoMinnesota.TheAEFtypicallyfliesDeltawiththeeagleChallenger,butduringthesummermonthswhileChallengergoesthroughhisannualfeathermolt,andwhileDeltarefrainsfromflyinganimalsincargoduetoextremelyhottemperatures,theAEFhastomakesalternativeplans.TheAEFmadespecialarrangementswithSouthwestAirlinestoflyMr.Lincolnasacabin"passenger"(inhiseaglecarrierofcourse)!TheAEFcrewmadeitsafelytoSt.Paulforthe14thAnnualStarkeyHearingAidGala,aneventtheAEFhasparticipatedinforthepasttwoyears.Mr.LincolnperformedbrilliantlybyflyingoverahugecrowdwhileLeeGreenwoodbeltedoutthelastlineofhissong"GodBlesstheU.S.A."

Allpackedupandreadytogo!SouthwestAirlines

accommodatedeagleMr.Lincolnonboardinthe

bulkheadpassengersection.

EagleMr.Lincolnsoarsbeautifullyoverthecrowdatthe2014StarkeyHearingFoundationFundraisingGala

whileLeeGreenwoodbeltsouthissong"GodBlesstheUSA!"Clickvideobuttontowatch.

LeeGreenwood,AlCecere,andBaldEagleMr.Lincolnshareaphotoop!

CombinedFederalCampaign

It'sthattimeagain!FromSeptember1stthroughDecember15th,ifyou'reaFederalemployee,youcangiveyourdonationtothenon-profitAmericanEagleFoundationthroughtheCombinedFederalCampaign(CFC)workplacegivingprogrambyautomaticpaycheckwithdrawal.

TheCombinedFederalCampaign(CFC)istheworld'slargestandmostsuccessfulannualworkplacecharitycampaign.Allnon-profitparticipantsmustqualifythroughtheOfficeofPersonnelManagement.TheCFC'smissionistopromoteandsupportphilanthropythroughaprogramthatisemployee-focused,cost-efficient,andeffectiveinprovidingallFederalemployeestheopportunitytosupportthecausestheycherish.

TheAmericanEagleFoundation'sCFCdonationIDcodeis11270.MakesureyouindicatethisnumberontheCFCdonationformdistributedtoyoubyyourFederalAgencyEmployer.

YoumaydonatedirectlytotheCombinedFederalCampaignbyclickingthelogototheleft.

WeareaffiliatedwithAnimalCharitiesofAmerica.YouwillfindournamelistedunderthefederationcategoryintheCFCgivingbrochure.TheAmericanEagleFoundationhasa4-starratingfromCharityNavigatorandislicensedbytheTennesseeWildlifeResourcesAgencyandtheU.S.Fish&WildlifeService.Toseehowyourdonationwillbeused,pleasevisitthispage.

JoinOurEagleFamily.BecomeAMemberOfAEF!Thelifebloodofanyorganizationisitsmembers.Bybecomingamember,youhelptheAmericanEagleFoundationsaveandprotectournation'smajesticeaglesthroughenvironmentaleducation,breedingofcaptivenon-releasableBaldEaglepairs,releasingcaptive-hatchedeagletsintothewild,rehabilitatinginjuredeaglesandotherbirdsofprey,andsupportingeaglehabitatprotection.

Membershipisavailableonanumberoflevels,andthereisaspecialplaceforyouinourfamily.Won'tyoupleasejoinusinspeakingupandcaringforeagles?Thankyousomuch!

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