CHALLENGER’S RETURN
by Judy Seiler

For those of our membership who have been members for a few years, you will remember my internship with the American Eagle Foundation. It all started at a season home opener for the Buffalo Bills, when Challenger flew during the playing of the National Anthem at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Well, on Sunday, September 12, 2004, Challenger returned to the stadium. This time, instead of being in my seat, watching this incredible Eagle fly free, I had the great privilege and honor of being on the field with the American Eagle Foundation and assisting the team with Challenger’s flight.

It all began on Friday with a phone call from Pete McManus, Challenger’s trainer, telling me they were going to be in Buffalo for the home game and asking if I would be able to join them for Challenger’s flight. Did I hear correctly? Did he just ask me to help them? My heart was pounding so loud that I am not sure of what was said next, except to hear me almost yelling into the phone YES!!! He would call me on Saturday morning and give me details, but we would have to be at the stadium on Saturday to give Challenger some test flights so he would have the "feel" of the stadium.

Saturday arrived and I was so excited. Not only was I going to see my friends from the Foundation, but I was going to be able to witness this bird’s special gift first hand ... in a quiet stadium, without the crowd and noise. We arrived, and got Challenger out of his giant hood (mobile home) and started talking about the plan. Pete would go to the top of the stadium, while Al Cecere, the CEO of the Foundation, Adam, Frank, Karen and I were on the field in various places, awaiting Challenger’s descent. We were going to have 6 test flights so I knew I had time to watch and absorb what was happening. We could barely see Pete and Challenger at the top of the stadium, when Al raised his gloved arm and started blowing a whistle. All at once, Challenger left Pete’s arm and floated down ... riding the air currents, taking what seemed like eternity to get down to the field. He was calling out, floating in the sky, it was like watching a movie, not something happening right in front of me. Challenger came down into the "bowl" of the stadium, and landed perfectly on Al’s arm. We did 6 more practice flights that day, and every flight was different, with Challenger taking off in different directions, or flying slower or faster. On his last test flight, Pete radioed down to the field to have me meet him on the first concourse, along with Challenger, and I could go up to the top of the stadium to watch Challenger’s flight from that view.

Whether you are standing on the ground and looking up at an Eagle in flight, or standing high atop a stadium, watching an Eagle float on air currents and fly to the stadium floor, the feeling is the same... total exhilaration. At this point, it is a good thing that breathing is automatic, because I am not sure I would be able to think about it. All I could do was watch Challenger, and listen to his calls. To see him flying free, knowing that he loves this and willingly flies from one handler to another. Having had the opportunity to fly him myself, to feel his weight on my arm and his power in take offs, and gentleness in landing, it made all of this so much more vivid. While leaving the stadium, Pete told me "Wait until tomorrow Judy ... Challenger knows when its game day ... you can see it in his eyes and in his whole body".

Game Day came. We arrived at the stadium early, so Challenger could have two practice runs in the morning and one practice run with the National Anthem. When Challenger came out of his giant hood he was flapping his wings, and calling out. He was so excited. It was Game Day, and he knew it. They all told me that once he hears the crowd and the noise, he is ready to "do his thing". I saw this first hand, and it was 4 hours before game time. The two practice flights went well. We went back upstairs to our suite of rooms in the Bills Office at the stadium to relax. Challenger kept vocalizing. He was "up" for this now.

When the time came to test him with the anthem singer, Al Cecere asked her to please sing through the anthem once, so they knew exactly how fast she was singing and they could time it so Challenger would land about the time she was finished. Pete was at the top of the stadium with Challenger and the rest of us were on the field. The singer started, and I looked up ... Challenger was flapping his wings and ready to take off. Pete kept the hood on Challenger’s head, but radioed down to us that Challenger was ready to take off. When she started the anthem for the second time, Al gave the signal to start throwing the lure around so Challenger would see it. Pete removed his hood, and Challenger took off, in the most incredible flight you could imagine. Just before he landed, the lure was pulled in and Challenger knew to fly to Al’s extended arm.

Everything went perfectly. All we had to do now was wait for the game to start. We went back up into our suite and waited. We talked and laughed and had a chance to visit. The team was calling out the times in seconds that they thought it would take Challenger to get down to the field, once he heard the sounds of the crowd. Something to pass the time.

When it was time to leave, Frank, Pete and Challenger were in the hallway ready for their trip up to the top of the stadium. Pete started walking down the hall with Challenger, who was now standing tall on Pete’s arm ready for his trip to the top of the stadium. The rest of us walked to the elevator, down to the tunnel and out onto the field, down to the other end of the stadium. The players were introduced and the fans were screaming. Just before they announced the anthem singer, there was a fly over by three C-130 jets, which pumped up the crowd even more. I looked up for Challenger, who was on Pete’s arm, totally unaffected by the noise of the jets. However, the instant Challenger heard the National Anthem, he was so ready. He stood so straight on Pete’s arm, you could see him getting ready to fly. At the instant when Al gave the okay to start the lure, Pete removed Challenger’s hood. Challenger jumped off Pete’s arm and started to float. By this time, the crowd realized this wasn’t a picture they were watching on the Jumbotron, they figured out that Challenger was present, and the roar of the crowd went up incredibly. When Challenger heard that roar, he started flapping his wings, and picking up speed. It was PERFECT. The sun was shining so bright, the sky was as blue as it could be, and right in the middle of the stadium was this perfect Bald Eagle, flying free. I recalled his sounds from practice, I felt the chills all over my body and was aware of the pounding of my heart. I felt the smile on Pete’s face as he watched his Eagle doing what only he can do.

Challenger flew down with such speed that he flew right past Al’s outstretched arm, flew behind him and turned in midair to return and land on Al’s arm. He got his small treat of meat off the glove, and Al held his arm up as high as he could. While the crowd was applauding and screaming ... there stood Challenger, wings outstretched, basking in his flight and all this glory.

It took us forever to get off the field. As we walked by fans hanging over the board, asking questions, Al would turn Challenger to the crowd and when he did, Challenger would stretch out his wings for people to take pictures. That bird knew exactly what he was doing. No one can ever convince me that he doesn’t love every second of this.

Once back away from the crowd, Challenger is allowed to fly down on the ground, to a full meat treat that he can eat in a normal position ... standing on top of it ... with wings stretched over it, mantling to protect it. That is his reward for a job well done. When he finishes his treat, he jumps up to the arm of the person standing there and goes about the rest of his day.

I wish all of you could have been there to witness his flight and been a part of the event. He is the most remarkable bird you could ever have the privilege to be around. He is the symbol of freedom in our country and was put on a path of sharing his life with humans 18 years ago. He is rewarded daily for his abilities and willingness to do what is asked of him. And in return, we humans are given a rare visual gift of watching a full grown bald eagle fly while listening to our national anthem. For every person whose patriotism is renewed during this demonstration, it somehow makes it all worthwhile. When my heart tells me that it isn’t fair that he does not have full freedom of life, my mind is reminded of Challenger’s excitement during these events, and the gift he gives to thousands of people every year. Those people will hopefully gain more appreciation for wildlife in general and in the end, we all win.

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