A bald eagle that was once weak and wounded began stretching its wings over Fairfax County, Va., Wednesday.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia released the rehabilitated eagle in Mason Neck State Park. A crowd of onlookers cheered.
The young bird was found in May near Bolling Air Force Base. She was lying on the ground after apparently leaving her nest too early.
“Fortunately, this eagle was found by someone who knew that it was not normal,” said Ed Clark, president and co-founder of the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
After months of rehabilitation, she's now strong enough to fend for herself.
“When we get a chance to return an animal like this to the wild and especially get to share it with so many children -- you just can’t buy that kind of gratification,” Clark said.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia cares for about 45 eagles every year. It also recently released young, rehabilitated bear cubs into the wild.
