Our hearts are heavy at AWCC as we say goodbye to Adonis the Bald Eagle.

Adonis was AWCC’s longest-standing resident, arriving in 1995 after surviving a life-threatening gunshot wound that required the amputation of his left wing. Though grounded, he never lost his spirit. For nearly 30 years, Adonis stood as a symbol of resilience and quiet power. His striking presence and dignified gaze touched thousands of visitors, reminding us that beauty and strength can endure, even in the face of great hardship.

He was found near a remote village in Alaska with a gunshot wound and as a result, his left-wing required a full amputation.* Since Adonis cannot fly, he has found a permanent home at AWCC. A bald eagle develops its white head feathers when it becomes mature at the age of 4 or 5 years old. Adonis already had his white head feathers when he arrived at the AWCC, so it is estimated that he is about 35 years old.

In Greek mythology, “Adonis” was a handsome prince who caught the eye of the goddess of love.

Many eagles migrate south for the winter, but some remain in Alaska year-round. Visiting eagles frequent the AWCC to rest or hunt near the Turnagain Arm. Bald eagles are carnivorous, with fish making up most of their diet. Herring, hooligan, pollock, flounder, trout, and salmon are common prey fishes. Bald eagles scavenge carcasses of fish and mammals and will often attempt to steal the catch of another eagle. Bald eagles will also hunt ducks, gulls, and other water birds.

Bald eagles are only capable of lifting objects weighing three or four pounds (1.4-1.8 kgs). Occasionally, an eagle will attempt to grab an oceangoing fish that is heavier than this threshold. When this occurs, the eagle must then swim to shore because they are not capable of taking off from the water. The sight of an eagle laboriously “rowing” to shore has led to the misconception that such eagles are incapable of letting go of the large fish that they have caught, supposedly requiring a solid platform below them to open their talons. Eagles can open or close their talons whenever they choose and float well due to their thick down and are strong swimmers. So instead of being stranded, swimming eagles are simply stubborn; they want that big fish even if they must swim to shore to eat it!

In Alaska, eggs weigh 4.5 ounces (125 grams) on average. Adults weigh 8 to 14 pounds (4-6 kgs), with females larger than males.

*Even though it is illegal to harm an eagle under the Bald Eagle Protection Act, an estimated 2,000 – 3,000 eagles are shot or injured in the United States each year.