WORCESTER, MA — The (golden) eagle has landed.
Worcester's EcoTarium museum recently acquired a golden eagle — one of the largest species of eagle anywhere — from a bird sanctuary in Wyoming. After a month-long quarantine, the eagle is now on view along with the museum's bald eagle, Diane.
Unlike Diane, the new golden eagle doesn't yet have a name. But the EcoTarium is inviting the public to vote on three possible choices: Valkyrie, Nyx and Cora. Voting ends on Saturday, and the museum will announce the winning name on July 4.
"The EcoTarium is thrilled to exhibit two of North America's native eagle species side by side," Zoological Manager Rachel Davison said in a news release. "We are excited that she will get a special welcome to the museum with a name contribution by the community."
Like most of the EcoTarium's critters, the golden eagle came to Worcester due to an injury. The eagle previously lived at the Teton Raptor Center in Wilson, Wyoming, and couldn't be released into the wild because she can't fly.
Golden eagles are not native to Massachusetts or any state in New England. The raptors, whose wings can grow up to 8 feet, live about as far east as the western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains.
You can see the new golden eagle this weekend at the EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and July 4.
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