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A bald eagle nursed back to health from a broken wing almost lost a chance to fly free Thursday, thanks to a downpour that slightly postponed the bird’s scheduled release.

But when the rain stopped, nearly 40 people watched as the eagle’s cage was opened and the bird took flight, settling in the branches of the nearby trees.

The eagle had been kept in captivity since February, when it was rescued at the Bonita Bay Group’s Mediterra development and taken to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. After months of healing and building strength at the center, the eagle was released back into the wild from the same area where it was caught.

“We wanted to make sure it was relatively close to the trees so it would be an easy flight for her,” said Jonee Miller, a wildlife rehab specialist at the center. “We were able to just open the door and she stepped out and immediately took off.”

The rehabilitation was not an easy process, Miller said. After taking X-rays, Conservancy staff learned that the eagle had a broken left wing. After being put in a cast, the wing took five weeks to heal, which was longer than staff expected.

After its wing healed, the eagle built up strength by flying in a small outdoor enclosure. As time passed, the bird was gradually moved to larger enclosures.

Conservancy staff opted not to perform a blood test that would reveal the bird’s gender. Based on its weight, Miller said it’s likely that the bird is a female. Female eagles are heavier than their male counterparts, she said.

William Thomas, community patrol manager at Mediterra, said capturing the eagle was difficult. He said it took four tries over seven to 10 days and the help of several people to finally catch the bird.

Thomas kept in close contact with Conservancy during the eagle’s healing process. He said about 13 Mediterra residents and staff members regularly asked about the eagle’s progress, and he frequently made calls to check on the bird’s status.

Thomas said he’s relieved that the eagle was released back to its home.

“It feels good, especially since it’s our national symbol,” he said. “It was wonderful to get it out there and to see it fly off again.”

The bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list in 2007, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but remains protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The bald eagle is the only eagle found exclusively in North America.

The eagle was captured from an enclosure at Conservancy and transported to Mediterra for the release. Miller said that, aside from the rain, the release went smoothly.

Conservancy staff still doesn’t know what caused the eagle’s broken wing, but Miller said she’s glad the bird is healthy again.

“It’s just a great feeling to be able to come out and see that the four months worth of work paid off and that this animal can be released back into the wild where it belongs and where it’s healthy and happy.”