We’ve got the first pictures of that newborn eaglet at Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville. The eaglet emerged Saturday from its egg, the first of two laid by Savannah the Bald Eagle back in January. See PETS & ANIMALS»

Bald Eagles Derek and Savannah at the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville have hatched an eaglet, and there’s a second egg incubating, too. The chick began emerging from its shell Saturday, Feb. 25, around 1:15 p.m., and was being fed by its parents by 2 p.m. CLICK HERE

Today on our Pets & Animals page, a photo of the day of a backyard hawks spotted by a resident with a powerful telescope. Also, a plea for help from a local veterinarian who is caring for a black lab that is up for adoption, and coming through surgery after a freak accident. Plus, adoptable pets from the Cornelius Animal Shelter and a report on a need for a new flight cage at Carolina Raptor Center. See PETS & ANIMALS.

Garibaldi, one of Carolina Raptor Center’s American bald eagles, passed away overnight Tuesday night in the eagle aviary. No cause of death was immediately known, but the eagle was approximately 20 years old and had lived a normal lifespan for a wild bald eagle. Story in PETS & ANIMALS »

A pair of eaglets born at Carolina Raptor Center at the beginning of March are growing rapidly with the help of  mom and dad, resident eagles Savannah and Derek. Read an update on the babies on our Pets & Animals page.

A rare Bateleur eagle that escaped Thursday from Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville was spotted Friday afternoon in a tree at a nearby nature preserve, officials at the bird rescue center said. But the bird remains on the loose. A notice announcing the sighting was posted on the Raptor Center website at 3:50 p.m. Friday. Here’s the earlier alert sent out asking the public to help locate the bird. Read the full story

"Liberty" the bald eagle flies away after Mayor John Woods released it during Independence Day ceremonies at the Energy Explorium Saturday. (Blake Radcliffe photo)

It’s Independence Day: What better occasion to set free a rehabilitated bald eagle?

Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville organized the release, which took place Saturday morning at McGuire Nuclear Station’s Energy Explorium, off N.C. 73 on Lake Norman. The occasion honored North Carolina’s veterans and fallen service members. Public officials from around the region participated, including Davidson Mayor John Woods, who was given the honor of releasing the big bird. (Mayor Woods lost a brother, James, in the Vietnam War.)

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Rough Draft, on the Village Green Saturday.

Looking for something to do this Independence Day weekend? Davidson’s annual July 4th event will take a different tack this year, incorporating the annual family parade as well as a Concert on the Green, with the R&B band Rough Draft. But the fireworks are gone, the victim of budget-cutting at Town Hall. If you’re looking for fireworks, you’ll find them at the Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville Friday night, during the Y’s annual Summer Celebration.

Also July 4, there’s a daytime celebration at Birkdale Village in Huntersville. And Davidson Mayor John Woods has been invited to help with the release of a rescued bald eagle in Huntersville, in honor of veterans and fallen military service people from North Carolina. Read the full story