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Located on a 12-acre plot of land nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is home to the American Eagle Foundation. This road leads to the AEF facilities. Dollywood provides funding for the American Eagle Foundation and we are located on their property.
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Our main office houses a library, conference room, several staff offices, staff kitchen, merchandise room and toolroom. There is also an eagle egg incubation room and chick rearing room located in the building.
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This is where we house all non-releasable birds trained for educational purposes. We have 37 bird enclosures in this building. Each bird has its own enclosure, but is taken outside on a regular basis to enjoy the sunshirne and fresh air. Those that can fly are free-flown outside and during educational programs.
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This is a side view of the same bird barn above.
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The next series of photographs were taken inside the barn
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A central hall separates two rows of individual enclosures on both ends of the building (photo shows one end only). Each day the floor and bird enclosures are hosed down and cleaned.
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Food freezers contain favorite bird treats, such as quail, trout, beef heart, rats, and the ever-popular mice. Careful records are kept daily for each bird (see chart on doors).
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This is the food preparation area
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Inside one of the private rooms lives Samson, a barred owl. He's a bird that can no longer survive in the wild because he was orphaned, rescued, and exposed to people.
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Challenger is in the "bird-weighing room" with Kevin Buchanan, who's checking to see if Challenger is at a healthy weight. Our birds are monitored daily to ensure their total health and fitness.
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The next series of photographs are of the
breeding and exercising facilities.
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Eagles
and condors enjoy this spacious facility. Each breeding enclosure measures 35
feet x 40 feet x 20 feet high. On the right side is an eagle / raptor
flight and excercise enclosure that is 150 feet x 20 feet x 20 feet high.
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This
picture is the same as above, except that you can see the deck. That's
where staff can walk along and view each nest box through a one-way glass
viewing mirror.
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A different view of the same building.
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This
view shows five eagle breeding enclosures.
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Raptor Rehab Building
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Birds such as eagles, owls, hawks, vultures, kestrels, and falcons that were injured are housed in this facility to recover. The goal is to release them back into the wild. There are 6 enclosures of various sizes to hold the birds. Features a roof with skylights.
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The other side of the raptor rehab building
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A well-stocked, spacious walk-in freezer guarantees plenty of food for our birds of prey.
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A quarantine rehab center for eagles and other raptors.
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