Happy 4th of July. #dodgers #eagles #baldeagle #flight #independenceday #lazoo
A video posted by Doris Morgado (@dorismorgado) on
The spirit of Independence Day was strong in Dodger Stadium on Monday.
As part of the Fourth of July festivities, the Dodgers had all the usual patriotic sports accompaniments, including a giant American flag and not one, but two bald eagles provided by the Los Angeles Zoo.
The eagles were supposed to fly over the stadium and land by a handler, but one of them seized the moment and had an Independence Day of his own, circling the ballpark... approaching the handler... and then making a break for freedom.
Clips posted online show staff beyond the outfield fence scrambling as the bird flew out of the park.
AP reporter Greg Beacham said on Twitter that the eagle was eventually caught in the parking lot and returned to the zoo, but that didn't stop the breakaway bird from becoming a hero on social media:
@daynperry @gregbeacham Like most Dodgers fans, the eagle was just trying to beat traffic.
— Me (@BeachGummy) July 5, 2016
I like to think Dodgers Eagle quietly trained for this performance, knowing it would give him his big shot at ultimate escape
— Arielle Castillo (@ariellec) July 5, 2016
@dodgers bald eagle right now pic.twitter.com/fYuGJ5vlOz
— Jazzball (@jzbbl) July 5, 2016
The bald eagle flying out of @Dodgers stadium might be the greatest thing to happen on July 4th since 1776
— Cameron Crawford (@CamCraw95) July 5, 2016
Zack Ryder. Joey Chestnut. That bald eagle that bailed from tonight's Dodgers game and never came back. America. #Happy4th
— Michael Heinz (@MGHeinz) July 5, 2016
The eagle, like most Dodgers fans, left before the seventh inning. #Freedom https://t.co/2cqg7ZdiRJ
— Mike Gwizdala (@MikeGwizdala) July 5, 2016
I'm at the Dodgers game and the LA zoo let out an eagle to fly around before the game and it flew away. I'm crying.
— Hannah (@hannnahw88) July 5, 2016
Hey @realDonaldTrump do you think the bald eagle at the Dodgers game was a false flag? I do. Sad!
— Whitley Perez (@realwhitleyp) July 5, 2016
So it appears the trained eagle at the Dodgers game tonight just declared its independence.
— Mike Rohan (@MikePRohan) July 5, 2016
Apb on a bald eagle. Has feathers & not really bald. Vicinity of Dodgers Stadium
— Linda (@blondielv) July 5, 2016
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