Went to the Berkshire Bird Paradise today. The array of birds is amazing. Everything from Turkeys and Pigeons to Owls and Eagles. Some birds come from zoos and some are born there but some come due to tragedy. Some have accidents like hitting power lines or get hit by vehicles while feeding on road kill. The real sadness is that some show up after having been shot. I saw two of these birds today. One was shot in Afghanistan by an Afghan soldier. A Navy SEAL came to this Golden Eagles aid and saved its life. The SEAL got enough publicity to have the bird shipped back to the United States and safety at the sanctuary.
  The second Eagle was found on the side of the road in Moab, Utah having been shot. The bird had 3 shotgun pellets in its head and more in its body. Most likely shot for its feathers. This bird was rescued around 1991 and is still strong, vibrant and beautiful.
  I took a couple of things away from this trip. While disgusted that people would shoot Eagles for no good reason I was made to feel better by the lengths others would go through to save these majestic animals.    
  There were a lot of good lessons for my son as well. Including an appreciation for nature. A great example of what we can go through and not only survive but flourish. All in all another nice day on vacation.