Sarge, the Bald Eagle

SARGE, THE BALD EAGLE

A crowd favorite, Sarge turns park visitors' heads with her shrill call and large presence. She has been part of our flock since the spring of 2016. While we don't know her exact age, we can make the estimation that she is around 14-15 years old as of 2025. How do we know? Bald eagles grow out of their brown juvenile feathers and grow the trademark white head and tail feathers after reaching maturity, which is typically at 5 years of age. Sarge had her adult coloration upon being rescued.

Here's a brief overview of what we know about Sarge's past:
A group of hikers found Sarge as a severely dehydrated and starving heap in desperate need of help on a Kentucky forest floor. The hikers contacted local wildlife rescue, the rescuers transported Sarge to a local facility for treatment, and once she was stable, the World Bird Sanctuary in Missouri took her in for further rehabilitation efforts in hopes she could be returned to the wild.

What staff noticed during Sarge's recovery was her inability to grow a full set of healthy flight feathers. Her feathers would easily break before they were finished growing, or they would grow in crooked or coil/corkscrew-shaped. This finalized the decision that Sarge could not be returned to the wild.

The cause of her condition remains a mystery. The best guesses we have at this time are exposure to toxins in her environment or some uncommon genetic issue.

Image of a Bald Eagle with her handler to the left of the frame, perched in front of an American flag backdrop.

A FEW BALD EAGLE FACTS:

A front-facing photo of Sarge, the Bald Eagle with her beak slightly open, a partially cloudy sky in the background with a few tree branches full of green leaves speckling the frame.

Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus

The "bald" in this eagle's name comes from the Old English word, "balde," which means "white." Here's a little more insight, thanks to the History Channel, as to how the eagle became the nation's symbol.

Bald eagles are found all throughout North America. The birds you may see in somewhere such as Alaska are quite a bit bigger than the birds you may encounter here in Florida. In Florida, the eagles do not encounter the same extreme cold temperatures as Alaska. On average, the birds you find here may range from 6 to 9 pounds. In Alaska, they may weigh 13 pounds (5.9 kilograms) or more! When temperatures drop, food becomes harder to find. Having those reserves comes in handy if an eagle misses a day or two of being able to catch dinner.
What does an eagle like to eat? Whatever is easy! They will hunt fish, rodents, other small birds, but are not opposed to stealing an easy meal.

The species was threatened in the 1960's and 1970's, here in the lower 48 states due to the use of the pesticide DDT. Eagles were exposed to the pesticide by consuming prey that had come in direct contact with the substance. This later affected the eggs laid by female eagles. The shells were very thin and broke easily. Many eggs did not survive.
On the upside, the population has been fairing well over the last number of years. Here in Pinellas County, there are said to be many active eagle nesting sites.

Bald eagles live up to 25 years in the wild, and up to 50 years in human care. Sarge came to us when she was approximately 5 years old back in April of 2016. With daily car and enrichment, we anticipate she will be with us for a very long time!

Bald eagles are also often associated in media with the screaming call of a red-tailed hawk. Our best guess is ... the red-tail scream turns more heads than the shrill, piping call of the eagle.

The Friends of Largo Nature Parks
11901 146th Street North
Largo, FL 33774

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