Bald Eagles’ massive wingspan allows them to fly up to 10,000 feet.
Bald Eagles have all sorts of meanings to tribes.
Their feathers are used in ceremonial pow wows.
Like this one that took place up in Harbor Springs years ago by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.
They are also messengers, says Doug Craven.
“My name is Doug Craven, I’m the natural resource director for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.”
“Eagle represents a kind of a communicator with Anishinaabe people here and the creator. An eagle is one of the highest flying birds, and so if you put some tobacco down, your prayers then are to be carried by the eagle up to the creator.”
If you find an eagle feather and you’re not a tribal member, it’s a violation of federal law to keep it, Craven says.
Soon, the Little Traverse Bands of Odawa Indians will collect more feathers through the aviary.
“The collection and utilizing of eagle feathers can signify respect or honor. It can be handed out at graduation ceremonies, those types of things.”
Earlier this month, the tribe announced the upcoming construction of a rehab and education center for raptors.
It’ll be located about 25 miles north of Harbor Springs, and will also have a massive enclosure for non-releasable bald eagles.
Since 2005, Craven and the tribe have been studying bald eagle patterns and biology to better understand them.
“We, as a tribe, prioritize those eagles, specifically, and other culturally significant species, as being important, something that we wanted to assist in the management of, research of course, and then the care of those.”
At first, they monitored 5 eagles nests. That number jumped to 30.
They go up to the nests, pull the eagles down and take blood to see if they have PCBs, or plastics, in their systems (confirmed) from Great Lakes Fish.
They also equip the birds with GPS monitors to see where they travel.
“We’ve done a movement study, where we’ve captured and placed backpacks on eagles. It's cell phone technology that allows us to see where they fledged to. So Eagles that were born here, or eagles from this area. We were able to put backpacks on them and see where they go.”
Craven says the study found that Bald Eagles traveled as far north as Onterio, Canada by the arctic circle, and as far south as Alabama.
“So that really helps broaden our understanding of where eagles are and where they’re moving.”
While working with the majestic raptors, the tribe would often find eagles that were injured.
Those birds were transported to Wings of Wonder in Empire where raptor rehabilitator Rebecca Lassard would help them.
Craven says they forged a great relationship with her. But after 30 years of running Wings of Wonder, Lassard is retiring.
That prompted the tribe to move quickly to build an aviary.
“As a part of designing our facility, we relied on Rebecca’s expertise the last 30 years, but also her knowledge of what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife permits and what those requirements would be.” The design is approved, and they’re just waiting on permits.
The entire project will cost roughly $600,000. The aviary portion of the facility will be called The Migizi Aviary and Rehabilitation Center. “The Migizi is Nishnabemoen, that’s our tribal language for eagle.”
The rehab portion of the building will honor Lessard and the work she’s done. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians will name it Wings of Wonder. Lessard feels grateful.
“I’m beyond thrilled that they decided to name the rehab component Wings of Wonder. The legacy will live on. It means a lot to me. It’s more than a dream come true.”
After the rehab is built, injured eagles and other raptors will have a place to go.
It will be the first eagle aviary east of the Mississippi.
Initially, the facility will house up to five non-releasable birds that will be on display for the public for educational purposes.
It’ll also have space in the rehab for up to five other raptors.
It’s very similar to how the Bah Ko Je tribe in Oklahoma started their Grey Snow Eagle House in 2006, says tribal member Abraham Lincoln.
“The aspect of the eagle aviary is not to just have birds there to take care of them, it’s to teach the people how to do better and take care of mother earth.”
He’s the community relations manager for that aviary.
When it initially opened, it only had five eagles and one flight pen that by federal law has to be 100-feet long.
Now, through multi-million dollar expansions, they have seven flight pens and the capability of housing 75 birds, Lincoln says.
“To be able to educate the public and give tours to people who have no idea what the eagle represents to the native culture. All they know is, well, that’s the American bird of freedom. Opens eyes to all aspects of it.”
Bald eagles were taken off the Endangered Species List in 2007. As their population continues to grow, more rehab facilities and aviaries are needed.
The Migizi Aviary near Harbor Springs will break ground this fall and is poised to help raptors in the Upper Peninsula and northern lower Michigan.