For a second consecutive year the Los Angeles Dodgers incorporated bald eagles during a pregame ceremony on Fourth of July at Dodger Stadium. Officials from the Los Angeles Zoo had taken the eagles to Chavez Ravine on multiple occasions to practice the routine.
However, when it came time to fly on Monday, one bird refused to fully cooperate. The eagles were released one at a time from crates positioned above the top deck. Anami, the female, descended from the sky largely without issue.
She swooped down above the right field pavilion, perhaps giving fans a closer look than they expected or desired, before landing in center field and walking toward a handler.
Chinook, a male bald eagle, took a drastically different course. He appeared to be closing in on a landing in center field but continued through the open center field fence and made a turn to go out of view.
Video of the unexpected sequence was captured by Michael Duarte of NBC LA:
Bald eagles flying all over the field for #FourthofJuly at Dodger Stadium pic.twitter.com/rxbZRlQT5Q
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) July 5, 2016
A Los Angeles Zoo spokesperson later said Chinook landed safely behind the left field pavilion near their van, where he waited for his handler. Both eagles were returned to the Zoo without issue.
