[Nov3]

Did an eagle really flie into the field. How was that staged?

[VaBthang4]

OH yeah.

The yankees have been doing it since the 11th attack.

The eagle is trained to do it....not that difficult. Hones (eagle eyesight) in on his carrier and lands for a snack.

[NYCVirago]

Challenger is a trained eagle -- he swoops in from center field to the pitcher's mound for each Yankee home playoff game. Pretty cool.

[floriduh voter]

They do that eagle thing all the time at especially baseball games. They just fly from the upper deck and land on the handler's arm.

[Arizona]

Yes, an eagle flew onto the field - his handler was waiting for him down on the field - it was just breathtaking. A spectacular sight - brings tears to your eyes.

[piasa]

Eagles have been used in falconry, along with falcons, of course, for hundreds of years. It used to be that only the king could use an eagle. (A golden eagle, usually.) In this case it was the North American bald eagle 'Challenger,' trained by a falconer (the guy who actually rescued it and nursed it back to health) to land on a very thick and heavy glove. (A little quail meat or fish helps get him in the mood.) Challenger had been injured in the wild and isn't quite fit to be released- though he flies well enough across the baseball field.