The Legendary Eagle M3's Story Ends in Tragedy

Nearly 50 years ago, biologist Tina Morris began an experiment to save bald eagles in the United States. In 1976, she applied the 'hacking' method in a New York reserve, raising chicks without human contact. Eagle M3, rescued with an injured leg, became a legend, fathering about 70 chicks. He died under a car's wheels. The experiment led to the eagle's removal from the endangered species list in 2007 and a population increase to 316,000 individuals.

Nearly 50 years ago, a young biologist named Tina Morris began a unique experiment to save rare bald eagles in the United States. In the mid-1970s, the species was on the brink of extinction: by 1963, only 417 nesting pairs remained. In 1976, the 26-year-old researcher from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology traveled to a national reserve in New York State to apply the 'hacking' method—raising birds of prey in artificial conditions and then returning them to the wild. An artificial nest was built at a height of nearly 11 meters. Morris, who had a paralyzing fear of heights, climbed the tower daily, hid in a blind, and delivered food using a long stick so the birds would not associate humans with food. Among the chicks, eagle M3, with a rescued leg and wearing ring number 03142, held a special place. He settled in New York State and became a legend, fathering about 70 chicks. The tragic end came when M3 died under a car's wheels while trying to eat a road-killed animal. Specialists read the number on the ring and realized that the deceased patriarch was the very chick Morris had raised. The success of the work paved the way for a state program. In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list: there were nearly 9,800 pairs. Later counts showed the population grew to 316,000 individuals, including more than 71,000 nesting pairs.