Nature Done Wright

Remember Alice, the Bald Eagle that nested in Ridgefield Park with her mate Al until this spring?

We know she had a small transmitter (that no longer worked), a missing wing feather and a red-over black band on her leg.

With some detective work, back in 2010, I learned from Peter E. Nye, leader of the Endangered Species Unit of the Wildlife Diversity Group for the New York State DEC that because of that red/black band, he determined that the bird was originally from Northern Manhattan and had hacked six years earlier, in 2004.

“This is a NY band," he wrote. "We’ve put red/black on captive-reared and/or hacked birds over the years, but not too many.” (Thanks, Pete!)

One thing we never found out: What was Alice's band number?

To solve the mystery, we ask: Does anyone have a photo of Alice the Eagle that shows her black/red band with the the numbers legible?

Researchers would love to find out.

(The photos here were by Alice Leurck; Alice the eagle was named for her.)  (Thanks, Alice!)

Please email me any helpful photos at celeryfarm (at) gmail.com.