A WEDGE-TAILED Eagle which was on deaths door a month ago majestically soared over Colo Vale last Wednesday.
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It was a sight that almost reduced WIRES raptor carer Peggy McDonald to tears of joy.
After five weeks of rehabilitation, the eagle was released where he was rescued, gracefully flying and soaring above all who had given him a second chance.
On June 19, Colo Vale residents Louise and Ian Pialek called WIRES after finding the injured bird on their property.
They had seen a flock of black cockatoos hanging around for two days, but did not realise that among them a Wedge-Tailed Eagle with a rabbit trap caught on its foot was camouflaging itself.
"We thought the black cockatoos had just come to rest here, but two days later I could still see something and when I got closer I saw the eagle," Mrs Pialek said.
WIRES member Dave Harker came to capture the bird but was unable to remove the rabbit trap from his foot.
He took the eagle to Bowral Co-op where there were able to remove the trap and then to Southern Highlands Veterinary Clinic where Charlie Carter performed surgery.
"The trap had snapped straight through the bone of his talon that would be equivalent to a thumb," Dr Carter said.
"The bone was open and it was infected. We had to amputate the digit and suture it all up."
Dr Carter said if this was a peregrine falcon, there would be no choice but to euthanaise, but the Wedge-Tailed Eagle was a carrion eater and could survive without a fourth talon once he had learnt to balance and tear up food.
"We're not doing surgery because we can, we need to know we can get him back into the wild and that he has a good chance of survival," Dr Carter said.
"Peggy has come across two wedgies who have survived just fine in the wild with a missing toe, so they are a good candidate for surgery."
The eagle spent four weeks in an aviary and Ms McDonald said he was the perfect patient.
"The first 24 hours were very hard on him, I had to get him rehydrated, medicate and feed him but he put up with all of it with grace," she said.
Ms McDonald said once a bird like this was on the ground, their physical strength had left them.
"I've known them to fly for days (with an injury like this) and they are at the point of dying when they finally land.
"He knew we were helping him, he let us do what needed to be done and today he has given us the pleasure of a wonderful interaction with him."
She said the "old warrior" was an adult who was definitely over the age of six, possibly even a few decades old.
A WIRES member for 25 years, Mrs McDonald has seen many birds released back into the wild, but said a wedge-tailed eagle being released was always special.
"When they come in with a trauma caused by man, their only predator, it's extra nice to watch such a lovely outcome," she said.
"It's wonderful to see them circle around until they get to a point where you can hardly see them, they find a current and off they go, back where they belong."
She said at the end of the day, the hero was the eagle, who she named Charlie.
"His mental strength and his will to survive is phenomenal. However this would not have been possible without the help of all who assisted him on his road to freedom.
"Louise realising he was in trouble, Dave rescuing him and of course the amazing work of vet Charlie Carter.
"People are never going to stop putting rabbit traps out, but if just one person can see the damage it can cause to our native wildlife and decides not to use them, it can make a difference."