'I call him little Gerry': Yukon photographers rescue 2 baby eagles

A Yukon photographernow has a baby eagle namesake after rescuing two eaglets over the weekend near Fish Lake.

On Sunday night, Whitehorse photographersGerryMussgnugand RonDionnefound two eaglets weak but alive after the birds'nest had collapsed.

Dionnesaidone of the eaglets was wet and sitting in a swamp.

"The adult birds couldn't even get down to them it was so brushy. They wouldn't have been able to take off or look after them on the ground. And the first predator that would havecame by, had the rain and cold not got them, they would have beenhooped. Theywould have been finished."

The two mencalled wildlife officials, who took the birds to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve for care.

Veterinarian Dr. MariaHallocksaid this isthe third time the preserve has receivedeaglets from that area.

"The nest that they came from, that's kind of the location that always has an unfortunate event with the babies," she said. "The parents never seemto build it in the right place. Italways gets blown down. We get those eaglets pretty much every year."

One of the eagles had a broken wing, and despite an operation, the vets were unable to repair it.

"That one unfortunately is going to becaptive probably the rest of its life," said GerryMussgnug.

"Hopefully the other one will be raised successfully and released. I call him little Gerry."

That eaglet will likelybe released in the fall.