CHESTERFIELD, VA (Rocktown Now) — On Wednesday, August 13, two young Bald Eagles will return to the skies above Virginia after months of rehabilitation at the Wildlife Center of Virginia.

The Center will release these Bald Eagles at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public; the release will take place near the park’s front entrance, with park staff available to assist with parking.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP with their name and the number in their party. For more information about the release, including how to RSVP and directions to the release site, visit wildlifecenter.org.

The release marks the first time in years that the Center will release a pair of eagles together.

The two eagles to be released on Wednesday—Bald Eagle #25-1557 and #25-2253—spent their rehabilitation side by side at the Center, sharing the same enclosure and progressing through recovery as a pair.

Two bald eagles sitting on a branch at the Wildlife Center.
Photo source: Wildlife Center of Virginia

Bald Eagle #25-1557 was the first of the two to arrive at the Center this spring. On May 18, the fledgling was found grounded in Chesterfield, Virginia, with no adult eagles nearby. Upon admission, the Center’s veterinary team found that the young eagle was thin, showing signs of a possible pelvic fracture, and suffering from lead poisoning—an all-too-common risk for scavenging raptors.

Nearly a month later, Bald Eagle #25-2253 arrived at the Center. On June 15, the juvenile was discovered on the side of a road in Hopewell, Virginia. Though it had no visible injuries, its poor body condition suggested it may have been struggling to hunt or feed on its own.

After their initial treatments, the two eagles were placed together; they began daily conditioning in one of the Center’s large outdoor flight pens to prepare for release back to wild.

“The eagles progressed through their rehabilitation quickly, going from just five flight passes in the flight pen to more than 15,” said Alex Olvera, the Center’s Rehabilitation Supervisor. “And they always seemed to want to land on the same perch—as soon as one would land, the second would land right on top of the other.”

Finally, on August 8, after one month of building up their flight strength and stamina, the eagles were cleared for release by the Center’s vet team.

“During flight training, there’s always that moment when you just know—you see a bird flying strong and think, ‘Yes, you’re ready,’” said Alex. “These two birds came in so young and uncoordinated, and now they’ve demonstrated that they are ready for life in the wild.”

Prior to the release, Center staff, including staff members who have been involved in the eagles’ care and rehabilitation, will share additional information about the eagles’ journey and the threats they face in the wild—including lead poisoning, vehicle collisions, and habitat loss.

This year the Wildlife Center is expected to treat more than 4,500 patients – sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals from all across Virginia. Thus far in 2025, the Center has admitted 47 Bald Eagles, including the two scheduled to be released on Wednesday.

For additional information on the Center, visit wildlifecenter.org.