Posted by Head for Canada!, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Feb 25, 2013 at 12:17 pm

Go Sequoia Go! Be free and don't look back. Eagles are not meant to be pets or curiosities.

Posted by parent, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Feb 25, 2013 at 2:16 pm

The related article at the bottom of this article states that Sequoia cannot live in the wild because of a gunshot wound that paralyzed her tail, which is why she is a resident of the zoos. Yet this article mentions her soaring in the sky above someone's back yard. Does the paralyzed tail prevent her from hunting? This is confusing. Perhaps the author, Dave Boyce, could clarify why she is able to fly so well with a paralyzed tail. Or has she just forgotten how to hunt?

Posted by Zoologist, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Feb 25, 2013 at 3:57 pm

Having discussed Sequoia with JMZ employees , I learned that Sequoia cannot live free due to bone damage as well as a paralyzed tail. She has not hunted since a very young age, so probably never got a chance to hone her skills. There is a steep learning curve for a young, clumsy eagle learning to hunt efficiently.

She has been exercised every Saturday at 2 pm at Bixby Park. She may have seen an opportunity to run for it, or something, such as a shiny object, lenses of binoculars, or noisy humans may have frightened her into taking off.

Posted by SpottedinEPA, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Feb 25, 2013 at 6:10 pm

My friend saw her yesterday morning in a tree near Illinois Street. I didn't believe him until he showed me a picture.

Posted by Hulkamania, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Feb 25, 2013 at 7:15 pm

Hide your toy poodles!

Posted by He's back, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Feb 25, 2013 at 11:49 pm

ICBS reported that the eagle has landed.

Posted by jadesign, a resident of Menlo Park, on Feb 26, 2013 at 1:19 pm

I saw a very large bird soaring far above the Sequoia trees in Menlo Oaks this past weekend. This bird seemed to have a long cord or something attached to one of its feet -- does Sequoia fly around with a tether on one of her feet? Does she interact with other birds? There was another large bird flying near her.

Posted by parent, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Feb 26, 2013 at 1:44 pm

Thanks, Zoologist, for answering my questions regarding Sequoia's flying and hunting abilities.

Posted by Zoologist, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Feb 26, 2013 at 3:00 pm

She has apparently flown off many, many times before, but the SF to Ano Nuevo trip was the farthest she had ever flown. As usual, when really hungry, she returns to her handler.

Posted by Trent M, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Feb 26, 2013 at 4:14 pm

i was walking in the baylands a couple of days before this happened and saw her and her handler. beautiful

Posted by Eric, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Feb 26, 2013 at 4:49 pm

I didn't realize we had a bald eagle living in Palo Alto. So exciting! This is national news: I first read about her escape and return in the NY Times!!

Posted by Nora Charles, a resident of Stanford, on Feb 26, 2013 at 7:42 pm

What a treat for those who saw her flying wild. I've been thrilled to see a great blue heron in the neighborhood, and will keep an eye out for Sequoia in the future!