A captive-bred Bald Eagle has arrived on the Isle of Wight and is beginning a new chapter after being given a permanent home at a local falconry centre.
The Falconry Experience has confirmed the arrival of Kailani, an 11-year-old Bald Eagle whose name means ‘sea and sky’, reflecting her new island home and the long-term future now in place for her care and welfare.
Kailani was bred and raised in Wales before moving to a falconry centre in Oxford, where she took part in arena flying demonstrations for around 5 years. During that period, she began to display increasing aggression towards her primary handler, which later extended to other staff members. For safety reasons, she was removed from public flying displays and housed in an aviary, where she remained un-flown for approximately another 5 years.
She was later transferred to a different falconry centre as part of an exchange arrangement. By that stage, her feather condition was already compromised, with several broken and damaged feathers. Having not travelled for more than 5 years, she became unsettled during transport, resulting in further temporary feather damage. Ongoing weight management for display work also prevented her from completing a full moult cycle.
During subsequent work in Scotland, Kailani flew for small private groups at exclusive venues and performed well. However, the pattern of handler-directed aggression returned and she was again withdrawn from flying work and placed back into aviary housing. It was decided she required a carefully managed, permanent home focused on long-term welfare rather than performance.
That role is now being provided on the Isle of Wight, where her care is centred on wellbeing, confidence and security rather than appearance or timelines. Although a full moult is still needed and her feathers are not yet in optimal condition, staff say cosmetic concerns are secondary to her physical and behavioural health.
Since her arrival, her training and management have been reset to basic principles, with progress guided entirely by her responses and comfort levels. Early work is focused on trust, understanding and communication, with no pressure placed on outcomes.
Kailani will be handled exclusively by a single dedicated handler, Charlotte, under a one-to-one approach designed to provide consistency and reduce stress. The centre says this method is key to improving communication and supporting long-term behavioural progress for large birds of prey such as eagles.
Visitors will be able to meet Kailani during the upcoming half-term period as part of The Falconry Experience at Robin Hill. She will be on display, allowing guests to see her up close, learn about her background and follow her progress as she settles into her new environment.
Looking ahead, the team hopes that when she is ready, Kailani will eventually return to flying, with plans including selected flights over the Robin Hill landscape and potentially along the Island’s cliffs and coastline.
The Falconry Experience has confirmed Kailani now has a permanent home dedicated to her lifelong care, adding that she is considered a long-term member of the centre rather than a temporary addition.
Poor animal. Exploited from day 1 for dumb humans, and it had the audacity to protest about it, to show its feelings.