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Permalink Reply by Josh O'Brien on May 28, 2008 at 10:44am

Bizzare, I read about it in the LDN. I wonder if it was really an eagle, would a nine year old really know the difference? Maybe he was too close to a nest or something, he's lucky he came out of it as easy as he did.

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Permalink Reply by John J on May 28, 2008 at 12:07pm

Eagle at 9 PM..maybe..but I think it might have been another bird.

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It happened just before nine o' clock Sunday evening in a wooded area in Manistee County, Michigan. Eleven--year-old Alex Birch and his family were driving through the trails when the family says Alex decided to get out of the car and walk ahead, unknown to him that minutes later the unthinkable would happen.

"I started hearing squawking and I knew it was a hawk because I've seen it before", said Alex Birch. "I wasn't paying any attention to it." "All I saw was Alex come out of the woods and he was as white as a ghost, " said April Birch, the boy's mother. "He had his arms back like this, like something was bothering him."

Alex's mom said she never heard or saw the eagle, but the pale look on her son's face said it all. "All I saw when I saw him running was his white face," said Birch. "He was saying that he was attacked by an eagle and he was rubbing the back of his head. He pulled his hand out and it was all blood."

"I didn't know what to think", said Alex. "I freaked out, it hurt. It felt like someone hit me in the head with a baseball bat. My whole backside was full of blood, my hand was all blood."

Shocked and confused, April said Alex came running toward the car and jumped inside the driver's side window over his grandfather and got into the back. Alex says the attack happened so quickly he barely remembers it, but the scars left behind tell a different story. Alex walked away with a two-inch gash on the back of his head, a mark on his back, and another near his neck where the eagle's claws broke the skin.

Luckily, stitches weren't needed. "I took him straight to the hospital," said Birch. "They've never heard of anything like it, they were pretty surprised." The word of the attack quickly spread throughout the hospital and for his bravery, the hospital staff hand-made an award for Alex. Alex has brought it with him as he heads back to the very spot where it all happened.

This time, believe it or not, Alex says he's not scared. "I'm not scared anymore," said Alex, "I know I'm safe as long as there's a bunch of people around me." Alex's mom thinks the eagle attacked because Alex got too close to its nest.

While he says he's not frightened by the eagle, Alex says the next time he hits the trails he plans on staying in the car. When out on a hike the family is urging everyone to be aware of their surroundings and to keep a close eye on where they step especially during the spring months.

WPBN-TV Traverse City, MI
Photos also
http://www.wbir.com/news/watercooler/story.aspx?storyid=58599&c...

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Permalink Reply by John J on May 28, 2008 at 12:21pm

I think this makes more sense Rebecca..grosshawk I can also believe..


Eagle Boy
Hello everyone! I am Alex the boy attacked by the eagle or "grosshawk"! I'm ok pretty much healed up but I still have those scratches. I have to say this is my first time on tv so I was VERY nevous! And no I am not a eagle fighter! I love eagles alot.


- Alex Birch

— Alex Birch, Copemish



Eagle attack?
An eagle acting in this manner is not at all usual. However the gosshawk readily attacks anyone in the vicinity of it's nest. The video on the broadcast showed what seemed to be a pine plantation in the background and this is good nesting area for these hawks. My granddaughter and I were chased by a gosshawk several years and the incident details mirrored this one. These are large birds and most raptors share the same general appearance. I'd bet my retirement that this was a gosshawk.
On another note, the broadcast showed an award that the hospital made for the boy. I thought I saw that part of it said 'eagle fighter'. If true, I really don't think that's a good very image.

— Rich Krieger, Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary

more info and photos..
http://tv7-4.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=138881

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca VanderVeer on May 28, 2008 at 1:17pm

Thats so cool that the hospital made him an award, I hope soon he can go back out on the trails with his parents and he doesn't get scared about it.. I'm sure that was something that won't happen again.

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Permalink Reply by Georgia Makowicki on May 29, 2008 at 10:13am

an article yesterday said that it was probably not actually an eagle, but more likely to have been a northern goshawk. Reguardless of what it was, it had to have been pretty traumatic for the child! Hope all is well with you Rebecca ... what's new on your end of the state??

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca VanderVeer on May 29, 2008 at 10:49am

Yeah i seen that sounds scary for the boy.. Not alot new around here, high gas prices,, but thats everywhere.

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