Delaware Valley Elementary School (DVES) students and staff had the honor of assisting in the rescue of an American Bald Eagle outside of their school earlier this year. Members of DVES' student journalism clubs then followed up by getting the scoop on eagles in general.

Double-M Vending deliveryman Roy DeLuca, who had just made a delivery at the school, was the first to spot the injured Bald Eagle on a bitter cold day. DeLuca spotted the eagle alongside Route 6 and 209 and stopped his vehicle to chase it toward a cluster of pine trees along the school's athletic fields. Once it was safely away from the road, he then asked a couple of district employees to keep watch of the area while he went into the elementary school for help.

DVES Principal Sonya Cole knew right away who to call. She immediately looked up the telephone number for Milford's Delaware Valley Raptor Center and quickly placed a call.

"Stephanie Streeter answered the call and told me she would be here in a hurry. She said she had to get some gloves and things to bring along. Sure enough, within ten minutes she was here. She bounded out of her car and ran to rescue our fellow," Cole said.

Within a short time Director Stephanie Street arrived with all the necessary gear. She carefully captured the beautiful creature and transported it to the medical lab of her facility for assessment.

Following the rescue of this eagle, a crew of DVE-News/TV reporters took a trip to the Eagle Institute in Barryville, NY, where they interviewed Director Lori McKean. McKean, whose facility is celebrating a 10th anniversary this year, took the reporters out on location where they observed multiple eagles along the Delaware River. The reporters learned a lot about the habitat and behavior of eagles while being treated to the beauty of the magnificent birds in flight.

Most recently, another crew of reporters visited the Raptor Center where they interviewed rehabilitator Jan Lucciola. At that time they were able to film and ask questions about each of the dozens of birds currently housed at the center. The students felt that it was especially heartwarming to see the care given the Bald Eagle that was rescued weeks earlier outside of their school.

While this particular eagle, sadly, will not be able to be released due to the extent of its wing injury, it is not in pain and is being very well taken care of at the center.

Lucciola told the students that the fate of this particular eagle has not yet been decided, but it is hoped that it will be able to be used for education programs and to teach the public about eagles and their habitat. No matter what, it will be well cared for throughout the rest of its life.

What did DVES students learn from the above projects and experiences?

“We have to be respectful of and help protect the wildlife around us,” they all agreed. “If we don't, it might just disappear.”