Baby eagle tests wings, stops traffic

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - Drivers in Gulf Shores got a rare glimpse at a juvenile bald eagle. Gulf State Park officials said they got a call about the bird standing in the road.

When the eagle didn’t fly away, passer-bys thought it might be injured.

Naturalist Kelly Reetz arrived to the scene to check it out.

She says she believes the bird was just tired from trying to fly.

“I think it was a fledgling, pretty much new out of the nest learning to fly,” said Reetz. “ Takes them a couple of weeks to get really good at it.”

Reetz said she tried to apprehend the animal, but it flew off into a low tree.

She said baby bald eagles typically come out of their nest at 8 or 9 weeks old.

Reetz told FOX10 it takes them a couple of weeks to learn to fly, during which time the parents will typically continue to feed them.