Lincoln, a bald eagle from the American Eagle Foundation in Tennessee, has become a fan favorite among Philadelphia Eagles supporters, writes Angel Saunders for People.
The 27-year-old bird was chosen as the team’s mascot seven years ago.
“Even though we’re flying him for the Philadelphia Eagles, we’re doing it in a way that allows us to educate the public on why this very beautiful, majestic animal needs protection still to this day,” said Jessica Hall, executive director at the American Eagle Foundation. “He has endeared himself to fans in Philly and they have welcomed us with open arms.”
To reach Philadelphia, Lincoln travels in a custom van for 13 hours, with regular breaks to stretch his wings. On game day, he soars over Lincoln Financial Field during the national anthem, while fans cheer him on.
The bald eagle hatched at Eagle Mountain Sanctuary in 1998. He was released into the wild but struggled to catch prey. Due to his inability to hunt, he was returned to the American Eagle Foundation’s sanctuary, rehabilitated and returned to a healthy weight.
Now, his handler hope they will make one more trip this season — to New Orleans for the Super Bowl.
So long as they get invited to the big game.
Read more about Lincoln the Eagle and his story in People.
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