For many Georgia Southern Students, watching an eagle soar overhead during a football game is more than just the tradition, it brings the community together with a unique and unforgettable experience.
But for Freedom Two, the journey to the skies has been a path filled with uncertainty. After contracting West Nile Virus, she suffered both brain and nervous system damage.
Freedom Two unfortunately was not the first eagle to follow Freedom at Georgia Southern. Before Freedom Two came to the Wildlife Center, there were two other eagles sent to the university who had also contracted West Nile virus but were unable to fly.
Steve Hein, the founder and executive director of the Wildlife Center at Georgia Southern, began noticing Freedom Two struggled heavily with seeing her food and often moved erratically around her enclosure. Unsure if she would recover, Hein was devastated until an exam with an animal eye specialist brought hope for his feathered companion.
“I remember vividly going through the exam and me sitting quietly while everyone was working in the dark. Then finally they flipped the lights on and said they were done with the exam,” Hein said. “And at the very end, he said to me, ‘She sees perfectly well.'”
After learning that Freedom Two’s optic nerves had healed, Hein began focusing on preparing her for life outside of the Wildlife Center. Hein is using positive reinforcement to build her trust and help her associate anything she might encounter at Paulson Stadium with a positive experience.
From lecture halls to football games and other places around campus, Hein takes Freedom Two wherever he can to help her get used to different environments. Through the time it took to get to know her, he found the best way to reward her is through her appetite.
Working with a wild eagle isn’t the same as training a regular domestic house pet—it takes time, patience and consistency, and Hein knows he has to stay the course. He hopes that this work will both help Freedom Two find her place at Georgia Southern and also become a memory worth saving for students who will might get the chance to see her spread her wings over the stadium in the future.
“You know we’re one of the only schools that does something like this and I feel like the moment Freedom 2 finally flies it’s going to be very cathartic,” Hein said. “It’s going to be very emotional for everyone.”
After 38 years of hunting with wild birds, Hein understands that even though Freedom Two is doing well with her recovery, this process is going to take time. He believes emotional discipline is key and that no matter how much he wants her to succeed, he can’t force her to be ready.
