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BENTON CITY -- Just before 007 soared to freedom Friday, Alan Cliff recited a prayer for the bald eagle and the people circled on a hillside overlooking Benton City.
"We pray for this relative. We release him back to you, Grandfather," said Cliff, a Native American spiritual leader who lives in Benton City.
Hunched over a dog kennel covered by a white sheet, Lynn Tompkins of Pendleton-based Blue Mountain Wildlife Rescue and volunteer Lori Harris of Pasco opened the kennel door and jumped back.
The young bald eagle, dubbed 007 because of the number assigned to him when he was saved by the nonprofit rescue group in January, bounded out the door.
With several powerful flaps, he was airborne.
He veered toward the hill, gracefully zig-zagging upward until he caught currents off the hillside. As 007 soared above the summit, one of the half-dozen or so paragliders on hand for his return to the wild circled nearby.
"That's cool," said Harris, an artist who designed special T-shirts to sell at the release to benefit Blue Mountain Wildlife Rescue, which focuses on rescue and rehabilitation of birds of prey.
"He flew beautifully, and he looks good," said Tompkins, co-director of Blue Mountain Wildlife.
The first time Tompkins saw 007, she was certain he was dead. On Jan. 11, she and her husband Bob were called about an eagle that a motorist nearly hit on Highway 11 north of Adams, Ore., as it flew low across the highway and then smashed into power lines.
Bob picked up the bird by its feet and brought it back to their vehicle, sure it was dead. He handed the eagle to Lynn.
"He blinked," she said.
An examination at Pendleton Veterinary Clinic showed it had no broken bones, but the bird acted as if it was anesthetized -- and it was. Tompkins said the eagle had ingested a barbituate used in euthanasia, likely from eating a carcass of an animal that had been euthanized.
It also had high levels of lead in its system, requiring it to undergo chelation therapy to remove the toxins before it could be released. Throughout the treatment, Tompkins and other volunteers avoided handling him as much as possible to avoid the chance the bird would become too used to humans.
For the eagle's return to the wild, the Benton City location was considered ideal because of its proximity to the Yakima River and food sources.
On Friday, as 007 waited in his cage, paragliders took advantage of the warm day to circle around the release area on Bureau of Land Management land.
Ula, a golden eagle that is part of Blue Mountain's education and outreach, entertained the estimated 30 people who showed up by flying from a perch onto Tompkins' thickly shielded forearm.
As Ula's talons clamped onto her arm, Tompkins produced a meat treat to feed the eagle, which cannot be returned to the wild because its vision is damaged.
"It's quail," Tompkins said. "She's not a vegetarian."
Cliff, who was invited to sing and offer a blessing, explained the significance of the eagle to Native Americans. Then he began rhythmically tapping a drum and singing an "honoring" song that he said "does not have words. It just a feeling in our heart."
The eagle, Cliff said, "has pride. He sees far. ... He means that good things will come to us."
Doug and Caroline Hoffman of Richland and their three children, who moved here from Hawaii about a year ago, were among the appreciative spectators. Caroline, and most of the others on hand, continually took photographs.
"This is the most amazing thing we've done since we moved here," she said.
007 left behind a bald eagle cousin, 008, at Blue Mountain. 008 also has high levels of lead, but is improving in treatment, Tompkins said.
As 007 disappeared over the summit, Tompkins said she was optimistic about his future.
"If he stays away from people," she said, "he'll be fine."
