Wadasé’s last visit to the aviary was the first week of September. True to her pattern over the last few years, she visits late fall or early winter, briefly, as if to just check in.
Since being placed on the endangered species list in the early 1970s, the bald eagle population grew under protection. Today they are off the list, and the CPN Eagle Aviary works every day to make sure the important symbol for Potawatomi thrives for future generations.
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation Eagle Aviary was the fourth Native American aviary to open in the country. Off a quite road away from town, it houses 14 eagles, one falcon and two hawks. The aviary’s mission is to be a place of rehabilitation and sanctuary for injured birds. Some live the rest of their lives Read More »
Potawatomi use and wear plumage with honor and reverence. Tribal oral tradition says “the eagle delivers a message to the Creator that people on this earth are still doing the right thing, so the sun comes up and the Earth lives another day,” according to Citizen Potawatomi Nation Tribal Chairman John “Rocky” Barrett in his Read More »
Submitted by Jennifer Randell and Bree Dunham Everything is finally green and lush here in the river bottom after quite a reluctant start to spring. The milkweed we planted is up and just beginning to bloom. Our first monarchs have arrived along with the hummingbirds and a host of other migratory birds. In April, we Read More »
Submitted by Jennifer Randell and Bree Dunham Wadasé Zhabwé, originally named Penojés, was one of the first eight eagles to call the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Eagle Aviary home in 2012. Who could have imagined the future the Creator had in store for this young eagle and the records she soon would set? “April 16, Read More »
Submitted by Jennifer Randell and Bree Dunham The plan for this article was to compare and highlight the differences in the telemetry data and progress of the two eagles we have released. The eagles have, however, changed our storyline once again. First and foremost, Wadasé Zhabwé and Mko Kno are both doing well. Since Mko Read More »
A juvenile bald eagle, hatched at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Eagle Aviary March 21, was released Sept. 20. The release marks the second time that CPN; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Raptor View Research Institute in Missoula, Montana; and Sia, the Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative partnered to release and track a juvenile bald eagle. Read More »
Contributed by Jennifer Randell and Bree Dunham After being gone a little more than eight months, Wadasé Zhabwé is home. Maybe she got wind of the last article in the Hownikan about her lack of recent visits, and she had to be sure to make us change our next article at the last minute. Perhaps Read More »
According to Potawatomi heritage, eagles are a sacred and important animal. They are prayer warriors who carry prayers up to the Creator. But what happens when an eagle can no longer fly? Mskwabimesh (Red Willow) is a five-year-old amputee residing at Citizen Potawatomi Nations’ Eagle Aviary in Shawnee, Oklahoma. As an eaglet, the bird likely Read More »