Eagle's visit to Legislature marks 10th Olympic anniversary

SALT LAKE CITY — To mark the 10th anniversary of Utah hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics, an unusual visitor made appearances on both floors of the Legislature Thursday.

Some lawmakers quickly snapped cellphone photos; others had their pictures taken with Nizhoni, a golden eagle who was shot in the wild in 1985 and has lived at Tracy Aviary since 1994.

"It can inspire and will inspire countless people as it is introduced throughout the state," said Rep. Todd Kiser, R-Sandy, as he welcomed the bird of prey whose name means "beautiful" in Navajo.

A rescue animal, Nizhoni can no longer fly, and she is estimated to be about 40 years old, handler Kam Thiele said.

— Ladd Brubaker