Challenger Opens Doors This eagle’s remarkable journey provides inspiration. You may have heard about Chal- next to arteries on the underside of lenger, the famous non-releasable, by Bob Hatcher the forearm. free-flying celebrity bald eagle under Danny then recalled that a TWRA care of the American Eagle Founda- colleague, Pat McInturff, had once brown head and tail of an immature tion (http://www.eagles.org/chal- commented that if you place a stick bald eagle. lenger.html). by the feet of a raptor, it will usually When they stepped outside to Challenger never learned how grab the stick, making it safer to grab place the eagle in Danny’s large pet to find food for himself, but he sure its “ankle” area. Danny got a stick carrier, the eagle started flapping his knows how to “open doors.” out of his truck and placed it along- wings. One of eagle’s feet slipped side the man’s bleeding arm. The out of the grasp of the man’s hand. Challenger’s eagle quickly withdrew his talons After the talons quickly sank into the Humble Beginnings from the man’s arm and grabbed the Y upper forearm of the man, the blood Challenger’s adventures began in stick. Danny placed the eagle in his April 1989 when a storm blew this large pet carrier in the back of his tiny eaglet from his nest in southern truck. He placed a tarp over most of Louisiana. After he saw well-mean- the carrier, leaving space for air, after ing rescuers feeding and nursing him which the eagle was calm. Danny back to health, he concluded that then reported this eagle finding and humans were his only food source. its band number to me at TWRA in He never learned to fish for himself. Nashville. In August 1989, he was found I advised him to deliver the emaciated and too weak to fly at a eagle to the care of Al Cecere and Corps of Engineers Recreational John Stokes at the nearby Cum- area on upper Percy Priest Lake. An berland Wildlife Foundation, now unknown long-haired gentlemen, the American Eagle Foundation of about 35 years age, picked him (AEF). Danny’s gentle rescue of up and delivered him to the nearby the eagle (and the man’s) probably Smyrna police station (we would still helped Challenger to later feel more welcome hearing from him about comfortable around people, when he details of that discovery). would help “open some doors” for The police dispatcher called Ten- eagles and other wildlife. nessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s After learning from the federal Danny Montgomery on his off-day Bird Banding Laboratory that this at home, and advised that someone first-year eagle had been released had found a downed “big hawk.” from a hack site in northeast Ala- Danny was then a heavy equipment photo courtesy of the Miami Dolphins bama, I called my colleague, Dr. Joe operator on Percy Priest Wildlife Meyers of the Alabama Department (above ) Challenger flies Management Area, and currently is of Conservation. Joe commented, prior to a Tennessee Titans assistant manager of TWRA’s Stones “Well, I knew someone would report and Miami Dolphins game River Shooting Range. When Danny that eagle down on the ground, in Florida. arrived at the police station, the long- again. After it was found nearly haired man was carefully holding starved in Iowa, we fattened him the bird against his body with his quickly flowed while the man tried up again and released him a second hands holding its legs, just above the to remain calm. Danny tried to pry time, just eight days ago. He flew feet. Danny quickly judged the bird the talons loose with his hands, but directly to a fisherman and success- too big to be a hawk. It also had the the eagle just applied more pressure fully begged a fish from him.” 2 Challenger Opens Doors photo courtesy of the USFWS We knew then the eagle would pow-wows and NASCAR races. (above) Challenger is never learn to hunt for himself in the His “eagle-eyes” and food were soaring near the Jefferson wild. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- always his secret for flying back to Memorial, in Washington, vice agreed, and in 1991 designated his handler in crowds of thousands. D.C., during the ceremony that it remain at AEF. In 1996, he graduated from several delisting the bald eagle from exhibitions at Atlanta Brave major threatened status on June Challenger Learns How league baseball games to free-flying 28, 2007. to Soar Like a Super Eagle before 80,000 people at the Para- Al Cecere and his AEF staff lympics Games in Atlanta. He soon 153 national conferences and con- noticed that Challenger felt comfort- flew at an Atlanta Braves game and ventions, where he meets with many able around people. They trained the Braves’ yearbook later depicted fellow celebrities. These events have him to help gain public support for as a highlight of the team’s year. The bald eagles which were then listed Braves also won the National League as endangered. This meant that bald pennant that year. www.Eagles.org eagles were in danger of becoming During 1996-2008, Challenger extinct as a species. has averaged flying at over 21 major AEF and its 20-plus non-releas- sporting and convention events per “opened the hearts” of thousands able bald eagles moved to Pigeon year. This includes 121 college and who can “open doors” for eagles and Forge by early 1991. This move pro sporting events. He has flown at other wildlife. was thanks to the generous facilities five World Series, twice at the Fiesta After her students saw Challenger provided by entertainer Dolly Parton Bowl, three NFL All-Pro games fly during the National Anthem and her Dollywood entertainment in Honolulu, the NCAA Men’s of a World Series game on TV, park, with the support of Dolly- Final Four basketball tournament. a Michigan middle school teacher wood’s super-entertainer and eagle New York Yankees’ owner George wrote AEF that her “students’ minds enthusiast James Rogers. Steinbrenner later wrote Al Cecere, became like little sponges, soaking During the next few years, Chal- “Watching Challenger fly, I was up all they could learn about eagles”. lenger moved from mere display at prouder to be an American than at After Challenger’s flight during public events to regularly flying in any other time in my life. I thought the National Anthem of a college an indoor music theater in Pigeon I might ‘burst’ with pride.” During football game, a grandmother from Forge. He then began free-flying 1996 through 2008, Challenger has Stillwater, Okla. wrote AEF, “Even at outdoor events such as Indian flown during opening ceremonies of though I was unable to attend the 3 photo courtesy of the USFWS Oklahoma State vs. Texas game, I Al (with Challenger) is the most gered Species Act. Yet, delisting heard that Challenger stole the show. effective lobbyist I’ve worked with would give them much lower prior- Challenger’s appearance meant more in my 10 years of doing it.’ Many ity for continued funding for their than anyone could ever imagine. of the conservatives photographed needed monitoring and conservation. He will always hold a special place with Challenger threw their support Al Cecere knew something needed in our hearts.” She also wanted a behind $400 million over the next to be done and that Challenger could recommendation for an eagle book six years to State Wildlife Grants, help. for her grandchildren, which we a program popular largely because appropriated suggested, Challenger: it can preempt the stringent endan- Bald Eagle America’s Favorite Eagle, which is gered species designation.” Con- Commemorative Coins available at AEF’s online gift shop gress has allocated $548 million for Challenger probably opened more at http:/www.eagles.org/merchan- State Wildlife Grants for fiscal years doors for eagles than ever in late disestart.html. Thousands have also 2001-08. 2004. Al Cecere conceived an idea to been touched by the video and song, raise $10 million for bald eagle re- “When Challenger Flies”, as seen Bald Eagle Recovery covery projects. It would be through at web site, http://www.eagles/org/ and Delisting the U.S. Mint’s sale of commemora- aefsplash/. Challenger’s image is Challenger and Al Cecere backed tive coins after the bald eagle goes also on a Tennessee special license President Bill Clinton in the White off the endangered species list. Al plate, that helps fund eagle programs House in 1999, when the President perched his nationally known celeb- at AEF (see http://www.eagles.org/ proposed that the bald be delisted rity on his arm and began a seven saveeagle.html). from Threatened status (they had and a half day marathon. He made Audubon Magazine (February been downlisted from Endangered unannounced visits to most Congres- 2006) reported, “Challenger has in 1995) They backed the Secretary sional offices and all 100 Senate flown from the U.S. Capitol three of Interior at the Jefferson Memorial offices of Capital Hill. Startled re- times. At a rally to raise funding for on June 28, 2007. That’s when the ceptionists would announce, “Excuse state wildlife protection programs, bald eagle was finally delisted and me Senator, but there is a bald eagle more than 1,000 people stood on transferred to protection of the Bald here to see you”. Al and Challenger the Capitol steps as he glided above and Golden Eagle Protection Act.