Bald eagle with 3D printed prosthetic beak

A bald eagle named Beauty whose beak was shot off by poachers has been fitted with a 3D printed, prosthetic beak by her helpers at Birds of Prey Northwest. The prosthetic isn't stable enough for a release back into the wild, but the bird can now feed and groom herself, rather than relying on humans.

But raptor specialist Jane Fink Cantwell, who dresses like Indiana Jones, refused to take “dead bald eagle” for an answer. She joined forces with mechanical engineer Nate Calvin of Kinetic Engineering Group, and together with other scientists, engineers, and even a dentist, they designed a nylon polymer beak that would perfectly replace Beauty’s lost upper mandible.
Calvin developed the new beak using a 3-D modeling program, then used a 3-D printer to fabricate it. After an arduous procedure to attach her prosthetic, Beauty was able to eat, drink, and preen herself on her own.

Injured bald eagle gets new 3-D printed beak (via /.)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

MORE: 3d printing • Delightful Creatures • health

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http://sci-ence.org Maki

This is so beautiful. Thank you, technology
- teapartydoc
  
  Thank you technology? Is technology a person?
  - Robin
    
    I think he meant the technology used by the creative & compassionate professionals that designed it! At least that’s my interpretation… a given that humans ultimately saved the bird.
ArnoDick

He still looks pissed off.
Brainspore

Could they provide this as an elective surgery for a sparrow who just needed a self-esteem boost?
eyebeam

Great story. And the comments on the article are full of conservatards who are more concerned that someone may have an opinion on guns that isn’t 100% positive.
- Brainspore
  
  Something tells me that the idiots who shot the bird in the first place probably own a lot of bald-eagle emblazoned paraphernalia. “Just look at that beautiful creature! A majestic symbol of freedom and American self-determination if ever there was one. Let’s shoot it!”
  - eyebeam
    
    I don’t think you can assume that.
    - corydodt
      
      I’m gonna go ahead and assume it.
  - Antinous / Moderator
    
    Each man kills the thing he loves.
    - Brainspore
      
      …By each let this be heard.Some do it with a bitter look,Some with a flattering word.The coward does it with a kiss,The brave man with a sword!And some assholes just use a shotgun.
      - Antinous / Moderator
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0UqROZn8PE
PathogenAntifreeze

Needs more blinking LEDs, but otherwise awesome project!

(For the humor impaired, I’m kidding on the LEDs.)
CLamb

Magnificent work. It arouses my curiosity on a few points. I know birds use their beaks for feeling. Does the beak contain any living tissue? Will the beak eventually grow out to restore itself? If so, how long will it take?
- eyebeam
  
  They said in the video that the beak would never regrow (the wound was several years old by now).
PhosPhorious

“The prosthetic isn’t stable enough for a release back into the wild. . . ”

They need to Kickstart a titanium beak project. I’d be in for $20.
- Will Bueche
  
  I think what they mean is that Crazy Glue isn’t stable enough to hold the beak onto the bird.
corydodt

How do I get one? As transhumanism goes, this looks like a good place to start.
- Brainspore
  
  Humpty Hump was pioneering that field back in 1990.
  - Pedantic Douchebag
    
    My understanding is that during a sexual position known as “69″, his Humpty nose will cause a tickling sensation on his partner’s posterior region.
Lobster

UPDATE: The eagle has been able to fire three shots out of her prosthetic beak, but cracked the barrel on the fourth. She has been detained for further questioning.
http://imcravingpresidency.tumblr.com/ SedanChair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZZgdzBm2R8
agreenster

People who do this kind of work make me proud to be human.
robdobbs

That’s gotta be some kind of beakthrough in 3d printing technology.
dcorbett

I’ve seen some pretty ridiculous, petty uses for 3D printers, but this has to be one of the BEST! Now, if they could only print new 3D brains for the poachers.