National Aviary's Steller’s sea eagle remains missing, believed to still be in Pittsburgh area

The National Aviary is still looking in the Pittsburgh area for the missing Steller’s sea eagle known as Kodiak and Kody, a huge bird that is noticeably larger than its relative, the bald eagle.

The bird escaped from a breach in its outdoor enclosure Saturday morning, said Molly Toth, a spokeswoman with the National Aviary. It was seen by runners and others on Pittsburgh’s North Side over the weekend.

???? WOW! Here’s a close up video of the Steller’s Sea Eagle named Kodiak that escaped from the @National_Aviary this morning. A group of runners saw him on Pennsylvania Avenue on Pittsburgh’s North Side. IF YOU SEE THE EAGLE, DON’T APPROACH AND CALL 412-323-7235! pic.twitter.com/y8ehO0ycY2

— Jessica Guay (@JessicaGuayTV) September 25, 2021

“Our efforts to get Kody home safely continue today,” Toth said Monday. “We still believe he is nearby.”

The public is urged to report sightings of Kodiak to the Aviary at 412-323-7235. However, no one should approach the eagle because the bird will fly away, Toth said.

If someone sees the bird, they should maintain their position and distance, and stay quiet, she said.

The San Diego Zoo said the Steller’s sea eagle easy to identify with its dark body; white forehead, shoulders, tail, and thighs; and a bright-yellow bill.

In flight, it is noticeably larger than the bald eagle and turkey vulture and has different-colored feathers. Most noticeable are the white shoulders/tops of the wings and white tail.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and BirdLife International lists the Steller’s eagle as vulnerable. The raptor lives in Russia and Japan.

The aviary has multiple teams on the ground searching for the bird.

The nonprofit is still investigating how the eagle escaped. His enclosed area is protected by heavy gauge wire that had a gap on Saturday morning, which was extremely unusual, Toth said.

Kodiak has lived at the National Aviary for about 15 years, she said.

The bird is in good shape and doesn’t have to immediately eat a meal to survive, aviary officials have said.

It’s unclear if the eagle will be capable of finding food on its own.