Summary: First Chapter

When a Navy SEAL and former Army Ranger rescue a wounded eagle in war-torn Afghanistan, a writer learns what it can take to do one good deed in a seemingly wicked world.

In the spring of 2010, as the world’s economy faced a potential meltdown and the United States tried to win one war and maneuver its way out of another, one lone Steppe Eagle, shot down on a firing range in Afghanistan, faced problems of his own. Fortunately, help was available from former Army Ranger Scott Hickman and his buddy, Navy SEAL Greg Wright, who took him in and gave him the healing he needed. They named him Mitch.

It wasn’t long, though, before they realized they had to find Mitch a safer home than the war zone they were in. Through the strange synchronicities of time, place, and the Internet, they got in touch with the one man just crazy enough to try to help—Pete Dubacher, founder of the Berkshire Bird Paradise, in upstate New York. Dubacher, in turn, enlisted the aid of Barbara Chepaitis, who was just celebrating the release of her book Feathers of Hope, about Pete and his bird sanctuary. Thinking it would be an easy task, she quickly agreed to help, but she soon found out that although saving an eagle might seem like a no-brainer, there were plenty of people ready to tell her it couldn’t be done.

Faced with a host of bureaucratic and regulatory obstacles, Chepaitis soon found herself cold-calling the White House and the Department of State, while simultaneously utilizing Internet media, the press, and social networks to try to accomplish one good deed in a world that looked more wicked every day. Along the way, she learned a great deal about the nature of personal power, as well as the nature of institutions that usually present themselves as faceless and indifferent to individual needs.

Saving Eagle Mitch offers a unique view into what happens when matters of the heart come into conflict with rules and regulations, and offers hope for the possibility that one person can make a difference in a troubled and confusing world. Inspirational and full of grit and fire, the book explores not only what needs to be done, but why such seemingly small acts of grace are necessary to create a larger good.

“When Barbara Chepaitis contacted my office and asked for assistance to save an eagle in Afghanistan, it was certainly unusual. But after listening to her recount the rescue of Mitch the Eagle by US Navy SEALs, and how much it would mean to our brave service members to ensure his safety, I knew I had to help. And I could think of no better permanent home for Mitch than in the Berkshire Bird Paradise in upstate New York. From the State Department, to USDA, to the Fish and Wildlife Service, we enlisted multiple agencies to make this happen. And like the Navy SEALs who protected Mitch, it was teamwork that forged our success. We know our military is brave, but Mitch reminds us of their compassion, too.” — Senator Charles E. Schumer

Barbara Chepaitis is the Fiction Director for the Western State College of Colorado’s graduate program in creative writing. She is the author of many books, including Feathers of Hope: Pete Dubacher, the Berkshire Bird Paradise, and the Human Connection with Birds, also published by SUNY Press. She lives in Altamont, New York.

You can buy it here,  http://www.sunypress.edu/

http://www.sunypress.edu/p-5702-saving-eagle-mitch.aspx

Please Bookmark and Share this on Facebook That will help us a lot.

This is a short video with Peter and his daughter Elizabeth with two 6 week old African Grey Parrots.

Peter received two African Grey Parrots from an elderly couple that could no longer care for them.They had a surprise one day when they found these two babies in there cages.

We will be putting up three more videos in few days of baby Emus, Hedgehogs and a pair of Tucanettes.

We have a new American Bald Eaglet! It is about 6 weeks old, here's a few photos.

It is doing fine and seems quite healthy, We feed it the best all natural food we can find.

We'll keep you updated.

 
Peter with the new 2011 bald Eaglet 

      Six week old 2011 American Bald Eaglet

Mother eagle not too happy with me photographing her nest.

Admission:
Adults: $8, Children: $5
We do have a group rate of $5 per person
We don't have funding just our admission fee to
help feed and care for our birds

> educational programs for schools <

Hours:
We will open Memorial Day weekend
until the end of October
We are open from 9:am to 5:pm seven days a week from
mid May to the end of October, depending on the weather.

Directions:
Take Rt2 east or west, until you get to Grafton, NY
Just 3 miles east of Grafton State Park, turn on Babcock Lake Road by the elementary school. take Babcock Lake road a mile of so, then turn right on to Red Pond Road follow the signs and you're there. 

Please help!
 We have taken in so many injured and unwanted birds
100% of the funding goes to food heating and care of our birds.
There are no paid employees, just volunteers.

We get so many requests for help everyday, but very little support.
We would appreciate Any suggestions?

Please bookmark this page and tell a friend about this site!
(It's a great way to help support us)

Even better put a link on your site or My Space to birdparadise.org

Here's a link:(just copy and paste this code)

Bird Paradise, Bird Rescue and Sanctuary

<a href="http://www.birdparadise.org/">Bird Paradise,
Bird Rescue and Sanctuary</a>
________________________

If it's urgent, Please call Peter direct.

Come Visit! This is a very unique and wonderful place for the whole family.

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Fun, Photography and unique gifts.
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