WHEATON, Md. — Montgomery Parks is very sad to announce the death of Orion, Meadowside Nature Center’s resident bald eagle, who was euthanized by our attending veterinarian on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.
Parks staff made this difficult decision after careful consideration and ongoing veterinarian consultations. Orion’s increasing struggle with several age-related conditions, including severe arthritis, and decreased mobility was affecting his quality of life. Bald eagles typically live to their early 20s in the wild and while Orion’s exact age is unknown, he was believed to be about 30 years old.
Orion joined Montgomery Parks in 1998 at around three years old after being injured in Alaska by a commercial fishing line that damaged his left wing and left him unable to survive in the wild. In the years that followed, he became a cherished member of the Meadowside family, displaying intelligence, resilience, and trust towards his caretakers. Orion, beloved in the community, fostered connections with thousands of visitors by greeting trainers and hikers with a welcoming call and actively participating in various activities.
Carolina Giraldo, director of Meadowside Nature Center said, “Orion’s impact on our staff and thousands of visitors over the years can’t be overstated. Visitors often heard him vocalizing, whether they were coming to a program or hiking on our trails. His natural beauty made him stand out and visitors were frequently in awe of being able to observe a bald eagle so closely from our raptor deck. I hope he inspired them to protect the natural spaces that are so vital to bald eagles. It will be very quiet without him at Meadowside, and we will miss him very much.”
Bald eagles are found in Maryland year-round, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. In Montgomery Parks, bald eagles are regularly seen at Lake Frank in Rock Creek Regional Park, Black Hill Regional Park, Rachael Carson Conservation Park, and Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park. Once labeled endangered in Maryland, bald eagles were removed from the Federal Endangered Species list in August 2007.
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 419 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems.
Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Program Access for more information.
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