What if we told you that East Tennessee played a role in one of America's greatest wildlife comeback stories? Haley Jones visits the American Eagle Foundation in Kodak, Tennessee, just outside Knoxville, to talk with Towe and Crystal about bald eagles, conservation, and the incredible work happening right here in East Tennessee. At one point, there were only 419 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 states. Today, that number has grown dramatically. The American Eagle Foundation has been part of that recovery through conservation, education, captive breeding, rehabilitation efforts, and the release of bald eagles into the wild. And that's only part of this conversation. Haley discovers why a piece of lead the size of a grain of rice can kill a bald eagle, why the famous “eagle” sound you've heard in movies probably isn't a bald eagle at all, and how these incredible birds travel across the country for appearances at football games and other major events — sometimes with two airplane seats of their own. They also get into some of the biggest myths about bald eagles, why vultures deserve a lot more respect than they get, how injured birds are rehabilitated, what makes a bird non-releasable, how eagles are trained for stadium flights, and what visitors can experience for themselves at the American Eagle Foundation. If you live in East Tennessee, are thinking about moving to the Knoxville area, or just love discovering the fascinating people, places, and organizations that make this region special, this is an episode you don't want to miss. 🦅 LEARN MORE & VISIT THE AMERICAN EAGLE FOUNDATION Website: https://eagles.org/ The American Eagle Foundation is located in Kodak, Tennessee, just outside Knoxville. Visit their website for information about visiting, tours, educational programs, volunteering, donations, bald eagle appearances, and ways to support their conservation work. 🎙️ ABOUT BIG ORANGE BUSINESS Hosted by Haley Jones, Big Orange Business introduces you to the people, businesses, organizations, and stories that make Knoxville and East Tennessee a great place to live, work, visit, and call home.
