With several powerful strokes from its enormous wings, a bald eagle was once again headed back into the wild of New Jersey.

Today, an immature bald eagle was released at the Merrill Creek Reservoir in Warren County. The female bird was found injured in June, said Cathy Malok, senior rehabilitator at the Raptor Trust in Long Hill.

It was brought in to the Raptor Trust by a police officer from Elizabeth, but it is believed the bird was from a nest site in Linden. It had suffered a broken radius bone in its wing. But after a two-month stay at the Trust, the bird healed and was ready to take flight, she said.

The release was a success as the largely brown colored immature eagle took flight above the waters of the reservoir and made a strong push several hundred yards away. The bird perched several times along the banks as it worked its way around the reservoir.

Though bald eagles are among New Jersey's 37 endangered species, their numbers are on the rise in the Garden State. "Eagles are doing very well. We had over 135 active nests," said Mick Valent of the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program.

Bald eagles fall under the state's Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act, which was signed into law in 1973. Thirty years ago, just one pair could be found in the state. But, "we have more eagles now than we ever have had recorded historically. It's one of our big success stories in the state," Valent said.

It's hard to say whether the bird will stick around the reservoir or make it's way to a new location. But both experts said they feel confident that it is in good shape and will soon learn to fend for itself.