In the skies above British Columbia, it’s not uncommon to see a bald eagle gliding with grace. But in February, something extraordinary—and alarming—happened. Graham Adderley was outside when he witnessed a full-grown eagle fall from the sky like a stone.
“Oh my God. Look at this. Look at this eagle!” he exclaimed in a video he captured, stunned by what he saw. “I’ve never seen an eagle so stunned.”
At first, it appeared the eagle may have been chasing a pigeon or fleeing a flock of crows when it clipped a power line. In an instant, the majestic bird crashed to the ground, unable to fly. The way he rolled over and struggled to lift his wings had everyone nearby fearing the worst—that he had suffered an electric shock.
The eagle then stumbled into the road, dazed, and crawled beneath a parked car. Onlookers called for help, and soon, a volunteer from the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (OWL) arrived with a net to safely capture him.
At the OWL center, rehabbers worked quickly to assess the damage. His left wing drooped unnaturally, and there was immediate concern for both internal and external injuries. They even sniffed his feathers to check for the telltale scent of singeing—hoping to determine if electricity had passed through his body.
But electric shock injuries are tricky. Sometimes the signs—like vascular damage or tissue necrosis—don’t appear right away. The team could do little in those early hours except wrap the wing gently, keep him warm, and wait.
Days passed. The eagle was quiet, but alert. He ate well, which gave the team hope. And then, a breakthrough—X-rays confirmed that his injuries were physical, not electrical. He had sustained a shoulder injury, but no sign of electrocution. That was a huge relief.
Three weeks into his recovery, the eagle’s bandages were removed.
“He just had his wing wrap removed to start slowly testing his wing strength,” OWL shared on Facebook. “It is a gentle process to get him moving it again, so as not to add further strain to the healing bones.”
Now, this proud bird is on the long but hopeful road to recovery. His instincts are sharp. His appetite is strong. And his spirit, like his wings, is beginning to stretch again.
He fell from the sky—but he didn’t fall alone. Thanks to a vigilant Good Samaritan, quick rescue efforts, and a devoted team of wildlife caretakers, this eagle may soon rise again.
Because even the strongest need a second chance—and sometimes, the sky is just waiting. 🦅
