An osprey chick rescued after a bald eagle attack on a nest at Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park just over two weeks ago has been released.

The chick had been transported to Avian Haven in Freedom. It was feared that the chick would have been vulnerable to another eagle attack had it been returned to the same nest within the park.

Remains of the chick’s siblings were discovered at the park following the attack.

With Avian Haven receiving about 20 to 30 birds a day and no significant effects from the attack known, the chick was released near the Belfast waterfront area around Penobscot Bay.

The osprey was in a flight cage during its respite at Avian Haven. There was a swimming pool that it could use and it was eating fish provided to it. The chick was also in the company of other osprey and was flying very well, according to an Avian Haven worker.

The bird will not attempt to relocate its old nest. It will continue into the wild on its own and join the fall migration to South America.

It is unknown whether the chick will return to Freeport, Belfast or somewhere new in the spring.

Osprey feed primarily on fish and are a common bird of prey. Osprey pairs return to Wolfe’s Neck every spring where they nest.

Historically, osprey of Maine have been subject to hunting and put at extreme risk due to exposure to the pesticide DDT, causing thinning of egg shells. That resulted in osprey numbers declining sharply along the shoreline. However, osprey populations have since rebounded and the bird has been removed from the endangered speicies list.