Bald eagle embodies spirit of independence with Dodger Stadium flight for freedom

LOS ANGELES, July 5 (UPI) -- A bald eagle performing at a Los Angeles Dodgers game embodied the spirit of July 4 when it passed by its handler and took flight for freedom.

The Dodgers had two eagles from the Los Angeles Zoo perform in a demonstration Monday prior to a game against the Baltimore Orioles, but one of the birds, a male named Chinook, refused to return to his handler after circling the stadium and instead made a play for independence.

A video posted to Twitter by user @wyliebyles shows the eagle pass right by its handler and head for the open gate in center field, where the bird vanished for parts unknown.

The eagle's break for freedom was caught on camera from a different angle by Instagram user @sixeleveneleven.

The Los Angeles Zoo tweeted Chinook's freedom flight was voluntarily brought to an end when the eagle was found waiting by his handler's van.

"Happily, our bald eagles are fine + safely back at the Zoo. Although he missed his mark, Chinook waited by the van for his trainer," the tweet read.

The Dodgers went on to defeat the Orioles 7-5.