A female bald eagle that was rescued last week has died, according to Audubon Florida.

"Our team, along with Dr. Robert Hess and the staff at the Winter Park Veterinary Hospital made every attempt to save this beautiful bird," said Katie Warner, director of the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey.

The eagle died Monday night.

The female eagle was seen fighting in mid-air with another eagle last week, probably over territory, when they landed on a storm drain in Orlando. One flew away when approached, the other was stuck. She had severe wounds, mostly from the fight.

Dianna Flynt with Audubon was part of the crew that helped rescue the bird. She says bald eagles are an indicator species and worries the environment may have also played a role in the eagle's death.

"But are there other underlying problems led, organic phosphates… There's a lot of things in the environment we need to know about it. And they can tell us if we just listen," Flynt explained.

 

The bald eagle is being sent to the Southeast Cooperative Wildlife at the University of Georgia to find out the cause of death.

The Audubon Center has about 100 birds on site. Fifty of them permanent residents and the other half of the birds are being treated at their clinic.

For the last 37 years this nonprofit has been rehabilitating and releasing birds back to the wild.