The public is invited to watch Sunday as a female bald eagle is returned to the wild along the Portland waterfront. The bird has been undergoing treatment and observation at the Audubon Society of Portland after suffering a head injury from getting tangled in a fishing line 10 days ago.

The rehabilitated eagle is scheduled to be released at 1 p.m. at Waterfront Park just south of the Hawthorne Bridge. But members of the public should check the Audubon Society's website on Sunday just in case officials deem Sunday's weather stormy enough to force a schedule change.

This particular eagle is notable because she is so large -- at 121/2 pounds, she is one of the larger eagles Audubon has treated -- and so feisty, said Audubon staff veterinarian Deb Sheaffer.

Based on the eagle's coloring, Sheaffer estimates the bird is 4 years old, or about a year from being a mature adult. The eagle most likely lives very near the site of the release, since Southwest Portland's stretch of the Willamette is a known home to eagles and she was discovered hunting there.

An Audubon Society rescue worker was on her way to try to help a merganser duck that had gotten badly tangled in fishing line in that part of the Willamette River on Feb. 10. But before she could get to the duck, the eagle spotted the prey and swooped in -- only to become entangled in the line.

Lacy Campbell, operations manager of the bird society's wildlife care center freed both birds and took them for medical care. The duck had to be euthanized, but the eagle was tended to and is ready to return to the wild.

To reach the release site, the public can enter the park on Southwest Jefferson Street in downtown Portland. Officials at Portland Audubon expressed gratitude to Portland Parks & Recreation for providing a release site near the eagle's home along the Willamette.

-- Betsy Hammond