Video shows injured bald eagle rescued by NYPD officers on the Hudson River
Police jumped into action to save an injured bald eagle that was stranded on a piece of floating ice in the Hudson River.
The entire rescue was captured on police body camera footage.
"It looked majestic"
Officers spotted the bird while on patrol at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday near the George Washington Bridge.
"I noticed something. It looked strange," NYPD Officer Russo said.
"From a distance, it looked majestic, and we just wanted to get closer just to get a better look," Sgt. Amello said.
Officer Patrick Memi piloted the boat closer.
"I'm thinking about the safety of my crew, not displacing the water, not knocking him into the water," he said.
As they got closer, the eagle stayed put, signaling that something was obviously wrong.
"It looked very disheveled, so we figured we had to do something," Amello said.
Together, they came up with a plan, used a catcher to secure it, covered it with a blanket and carefully navigated the slick, narrow steps to safety.
"They don't really train you for, you know, handling a bald eagle, but we made it work," Amello said.
Eagle receiving care at The Raptor Trust
It was a unique experience for the entire crew.
"It's the first time we've rescued a bald eagle," Det. Martin said.
"People, dogs, falcons, but as far as a bald eagle goes, this is a first," Russo said. "I have to say, this was probably the coolest."
Back on dry land, they handed the eagle off to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The eagle is now being cared for by The Raptor Trust in Millington, New Jersey, where they care for thousands of injured birds each year.
The DEC said they had banded that eagle as a nestling and were able to identify it as a 21-year-old male. According to the DEC, bald eagles live an average of 20-30 years in the wild.
Sadly, The Raptor Trust said the eagle was in bad shape when it arrived and remains in intensive care.
"I just want to see him get well, get better," Memi said.
Where to see bald eagles in New York
Bald eagles are a frequent sight on the Hudson River, with many being spotted on the stretch in Westchester County. They visit the area this time every year, and nature lovers and photographers love to catch a glimpse.
The birds fly south to the lower Hudson Valley for open water fishing as rivers, lakes and reservoirs farther north are frozen solid.
Wintering eagles start arriving in December, with numbers peaking in January and February, according to the state's Department of Environmental Conservation.
Other popular viewing spots include the Upper Delaware River watershed and parts of the St. Lawrence River.
