VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Bald eagles are said to have some of the best eyesight in the animal kingdom, but apparently it was no match for the Windex at H&R Block on Newtown Road.
In ironic fashion, the tax preparation business had a bald eagle slam through its glass window on Monday morning.
The eagle even hung around on the windowsill for a bit before flying off.
The bird didn’t appear to have an major injuries, but Virginia Beach wildlife rehabbers are hoping to track it down to see if it suffered any trauma.
Now, if only it was a Liberty Tax.
Harry Patterson, Jr. works next door and saw the bald eagle as he got into work. He shared the video with 10 On Your Side.
“I look in the door of H&R Block and what I thought was a stuffed bird, I thought it was a stuffed animal, turned out to be a bald eagle,” Patterson said. “I see him moving around and he starts coming up to the glass and banging. I’m like ‘Oh, I don’t want him busting out of here and coming after me.'”
Patterson found the building’s landlord and another tenant, who called 911.
“Next thing I know, the eagle’s jumped up on the chair here, right here. And he looked like he was ready to come out,” Patterson said. “I was worried about him hurting himself, but I was also worried about me getting hurt as well.”
Patterson moved back inside of his office, watching the eagle from the crack of his door.
“Next thing you know, the eagle jumps out, flies,” he said. “I grab my phone and took a video of the eagle and he looked like he was fine.”
Soon after the eagle took flight, Rochelle Stewart with Tidewater Rehabilitation and Environmental Education arrived to help.
“I am in shock. This eagle, this bald eagle must have been huge for it to make that much damage,” she said.
Stewart watched the videos Patterson took and thinks the bird looked okay, but she still searched the area.
“We like to make sure that there is no head injury to the eagle,” she said.
The eagle left quite the clean-up job, with glass covering the floor.
As for Patterson, he’s pretty sure tomorrow won’t be nearly as exciting, but is thankful the bird of prey is heading back to its own nest.
“It’s pretty cool for a Monday, you know,” he said.
