Author Topic: Bald Eagle - Virginia / Norfolk (Read 18829 times)

Alison · « **Reply #62 on:** August 21, 2015, 22:06 »

An update on the eaglet NX from the Norfolk Botanical Garden, who was last released in May of 2012. Now four years old, she is still out there, and her transmitter is still functioning.

August 17, 2015

Whatever happened to ... the eagle rescued from its nest at the Norfolk Botanical Garden

By Joanne Kimberlin

Miraculously, the signals still come - blips on computer maps that show NX survives and is still phoning home.

No one has actually seen her - at least knowingly - since she was last released in May 2012, one of three young eagles who became wildlife stars after their mother was killed in a collision with a US Airways jet over Norfolk the year before.

Rescued from their nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden, reared by the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro, adored by millions who tuned in via eagle cams, NX was the only one of the trio outfitted with a tracking device.

Strapped to her back with a harness, the 3-ounce device - about the size of a deck of playing cards - uses cellphone towers to relay its GPS signals. But even with solar charging, its battery life is limited.

"We expected the signals to start fading out by the fall of 2013," said Amanda Nicholson, a director at the center.

The most recent was transmitted to the wildlife center Wednesday.

"It's just crazy," Nicholson said.

Such good luck means NX - named for the ID code on one of her leg bands - is supplying the center with its longest-running eagle track yet. She's also showing that wildlife rehabilitation can work.

While her siblings have vanished into the wild, where 70 percent of eagles don't survive their first year, NX's signals are proof that she's making it, despite having no parents to learn from.

"Some people say you can't raise in captivity and be successful," Nicholson said. "But we have a 4-year-old eagle out there doing her thing."

NX certainly had a rocky start. In July 2011 - three months after being plucked from their nest - the Norfolk eaglets were released with loads of hoopla at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City County.

By then, the story of the motherless chicks had captured international attention. They'd been celebrities from egg stage, thanks to eagle cams at the Botanical Garden and the wildlife center. More than 1,000 fans turned out to watch them fly away.

But unlike her nest mates, NX didn't seize freedom. She landed in a nearby field, staying put until she was picked up and returned to the center. After a second release in August 201l, she took off, but was found injured on a road that December, apparently struck by a car on the Northern Neck. After five months of recovery, she was released again.

Since then, Nicholson said, NX has been a homebody compared with three younger eagles the center has more recently started tracking: "We've watched the others go off to different states and come back, but she's pretty much remained in Virginia. She's not a huge adventurer."

The past few weeks have been an exception, Nicholson said. The latest blips have come from the Maryland side of the Potomac River.

"But mostly, she pretty much sticks around the Northern Neck area. Twice, she's turned up in the exact same spots on the exact same dates of different years. It's interesting."

There have been no verified visual sightings of NX, even though her band letters are large enough to be read with binoculars or a bird scope. The transmitter also makes her distinctive. She'll carry it on her shoulders all of her life - which could be 30 years. Permanent harnesses are considered safer than deteriorating versions, which can fall apart in stages, leaving dangling pieces that can hang up a bird.

At 5 years old, NX will be mature enough to mate. Already, her head and tail feathers have surely turned white - the trademarks of an adult bald eagle.

"I'd love for someone to get a photo of her," Nicholson said. "She must look very majestic by now."

Her transmitter does seem to be getting tired. Programmed to check in once every 48 hours - if she's in range of a cell tower - the blips are becoming more sporadic, sometimes weeks apart.

But each one feeds research into eagle behavior, information that might help preserve the species and reduce the type of air strikes that killed NX's mother.

She and her siblings were the last of their kind at the Botanical Garden. Nesting has been discouraged there since their mother's death. The airport is right next door, and collisions with big birds are risky all around.

But at the wildlife center, the Norfolk chicks left a lasting legacy.

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/08/whatever-happened-eagle-rescued-its-nest-norfolk-botanical-garden

allikat · « **Reply #61 on:** October 08, 2012, 20:42 »

Thanks for that post RCF!

It will be interesting to see what happens or if anything happens as birds will do what they want to do. We can only hope by moving the nest sites away from that darned airport will help...Now, it's up to the birds to listen! Eeeck! $:-\$

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #60 on:** October 04, 2012, 00:32 »

will be interesting to see if they can keep the eagles from nesting there again OR what they manage to devise to encourage the eagles to nest elsewhere. I can empathize with their problem/concerns. $:-\$

RCF · « **Reply #59 on:** October 03, 2012, 22:29 »

From BCAW

BREAKING NEWS: NORFOLK NESTS TO BE MOVED TOMORROW

Norfolk Botanical Garden Eagle Alliance - http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?p=207424#p207424

From City of Norfolk facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/NorfolkVA?ref=stream

In the interest of public safety and the safety of the bald eagles, the City of Norfolk will move forward to remove the nests at the Norfolk Botanical Garden Thursday morning October 4th. Norfolk Botanical Garden will delay its opening until approximately 11:00 a.m.

The Norfolk Botanical Garden, Norfolk International Airport and City of Norfolk agreed to support the recommendation of the USDA Wildlife Services to remove the nests following months of discussion and study of the USDA’s Wildlife Hazard Assessment and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries reports on the status and population of eagles in Virginia.

While we all have enjoyed the eagle’s at Norfolk Botanical Garden, encouraging them to find a new home ultimately ensures the safety of the public, property and the eagles.

For questions regarding the nest, avian radar and dispersal techniques, go to USDA FAQ at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/state_office/virginia_faq.shtml

RCF · « **Reply #58 on:** March 20, 2012, 21:16 »

Quote from: susha on March 20, 2012, 19:45

Boy, this guy is really popular with the ladies!

Yes, what a gigolo!!

susha · « **Reply #57 on:** March 20, 2012, 19:45 »

Boy, this guy is really popular with the ladies!

RCF · « **Reply #56 on:** March 20, 2012, 17:24 »

More excitement today with another intruder!!

http://www.norfolkeagles.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=6805 - Male attacking female #5 who entered the nest today.

susha · « **Reply #55 on:** March 19, 2012, 18:46 »

Wow! Such drama! Wonder if this union will produce eggs

Thanks for the links, rcf!

RCF · « **Reply #54 on:** March 19, 2012, 18:27 »

These pics and video are from today with Dad Norfolk and Female #4.

Video - http://youtu.be/Hwq7VbXBZ7c

Female #4

They also say she has very gnarly looking feet, I suggest a pedicure.

RCF · « **Reply #53 on:** March 19, 2012, 18:17 »

There has been a lot of drama at Norfolk Botanical Gardens this year. Someone from one of the forums made a couple of movies called " As the Nest Turns"

You really need to watch to get what has been going on.

As the Nest Turns Part 1 - https://picasaweb.google.com/106076466575367436243/NBG2012#5712912626737739170

As the Nest Turns Part 2 - https://picasaweb.google.com/106076466575367436243/NBG2012#5721064094895908866

Kinderchick · « **Reply #52 on:** May 01, 2011, 19:09 »

There is now a webcam back up and running, at the rehab centre.

Here is the link...
http://www.wvec.com/marketplace/microsite-content/eagle-cam.html

And here is a comment from the website...

Three bald eagles from Norfolk Botanical Garden were relocated to the Wildlife Center of Virginia on April 27 after their mother was killed by an airplane the previous day. The eaglets are receiving excellent care and are being prepared for release into the wild in August...

Please note, the video feed from Waynesboro was established on short notice due to the sudden death of the adult eagle. Steps are being taken to improve the quality of the video stream, but we hope our devoted Eagle Cam fans will appreciate the hard work WCV has done to bring us this video feed so quickly.

Pam · « **Reply #51 on:** April 27, 2011, 22:04 »

Thanks for the link, Carly, sad story......hope the eaglets do well, and same for Dad...

msdolittle · « **Reply #50 on:** April 27, 2011, 21:20 »

Quote from: bcbird on April 27, 2011, 12:19

Details of the plan for raising and releasing of the three eaglets.

http://eaglecam.tumblr.com/post/4985403539/eaglets-being-removed-from-nest

nice story. The kids and dad should do well in the long term!

Kinderchick · « **Reply #49 on:** April 27, 2011, 20:25 »

Very sad, indeed, for the dad.

I hope he finds a new mate some day. But I am glad to hear that the 3 eaglets are now being cared for, especially as a family unit. Thanks for posting the article, bcbird.

bcbird · « **Reply #48 on:** April 27, 2011, 12:19 »

Details of the plan for raising and releasing of the three eaglets.

http://eaglecam.tumblr.com/post/4985403539/eaglets-being-removed-from-nest

MayShowers · « **Reply #47 on:** April 27, 2011, 10:11 »

Oh, that is so sad

Elaine L · « **Reply #46 on:** April 27, 2011, 10:08 »

So very sad. I hope that the idea is to return the eaglets to the wild once they are older. Dad, meanwhile, must be in a state of shock, losing first his mate, then his offspring. I hope that he will have better times soon.

carly · « **Reply #45 on:** April 27, 2011, 10:00 »

They just finished removing the three eaglets from the nest, they will all be raised together apparently. They put up a good fight!

RIP Mom and hope Dad takes it okay. He had just finished feeding them tenderly earlier

RCF · « **Reply #44 on:** April 26, 2011, 21:15 »

That is so sad.

Do you think Dad will have trouble feeding three eaglets?

Kinderchick · « **Reply #43 on:** April 26, 2011, 20:35 »

Quote from: carly on April 26, 2011, 13:05

"The Norfolk eagle cam reports an eagle was hit and killed at the Norfolk airport, which is next to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens."
BCAW is reporting it's the Mom here that was killed...

Oh no, this is so very sad.

I wonder what will happen with the 3 eaglets? $:-\$

allikat · « **Reply #42 on:** April 26, 2011, 14:12 »

So very sad when this happens!
Just at the wrong place at the wrong time!
Don't know if Dad can keep up with the demand of the fast growing eaglets?
Wonder what happens in this situation?

carly · « **Reply #41 on:** April 26, 2011, 13:37 »

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/04/norfolk-gardens-female-eagle-likely-killed-airplane-strike

MayShowers · « **Reply #40 on:** April 26, 2011, 13:25 »

Such sad news, what will happen to her babies?

Pam · « **Reply #39 on:** April 26, 2011, 13:14 »

Not good news!

carly · « **Reply #38 on:** April 26, 2011, 13:05 »

"The Norfolk eagle cam reports an eagle was hit and killed at the Norfolk airport, which is next to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens."

BCAW is reporting it's the Mom here that was killed. I'm starting to feel like prince of darkness.

Kinderchick · « **Reply #37 on:** April 16, 2011, 20:57 »

Quote from: birdcamfan on April 16, 2011, 17:00

It sure doesn't seem to take long with these giant birds, although I said that about my own kids too!!!

LOL, bcf.

birdcamfan · « **Reply #36 on:** April 16, 2011, 17:00 »

It sure doesn't seem to take long with these giant birds, although I said that about my own kids too!!!

Kinderchick · « **Reply #35 on:** April 16, 2011, 11:20 »

Hadn't looked at this webcam for awhile. Just observed mama feeding her 3 eaglets. Have they ever grown!

Kinderchick · « **Reply #34 on:** April 04, 2011, 12:54 »

Sure is windy, way up there in the eagle nest!

The tree is swaying all over the place and the 3 chicks are all laying down, with either mama or papa watching over them.

Kinderchick · « **Reply #33 on:** April 02, 2011, 20:31 »

Thanks, rcf!

Will take a look tomorrow. The website says "the eagles are sleeping now". Don't want to wake them!

RCF · « **Reply #32 on:** April 02, 2011, 18:56 »

Quote from: Kinderchick on April 02, 2011, 17:08

Would you mind posting the link to the webcam, rcf? Thanks!

Here is the link Kinderchick

http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html

Kinderchick · « **Reply #31 on:** April 02, 2011, 17:08 »

Would you mind posting the link to the webcam, rcf? Thanks!

Kinderchick · « **Reply #30 on:** March 18, 2011, 13:13 »

Quote from: Rapidcitymbfan on March 17, 2011, 21:30

Third egg hatched today.....three little eaglets

Great news, rcf!

RCF · « **Reply #29 on:** March 17, 2011, 21:30 »

Third egg hatched today.....three little eaglets

birdcamfan · « **Reply #28 on:** March 14, 2011, 09:24 »

Thanks, that is one deep nest. Looks nice and cozy. I guess it needs to be, this chick looks pretty good sized.

RCF · « **Reply #27 on:** March 14, 2011, 06:15 »

The nestbowl is fairly deep, its hard to see the other eggs.

bcbird · « **Reply #26 on:** March 13, 2011, 22:43 »

There were three eggs produced, and the first hatched this morning!

birdcamfan · « **Reply #25 on:** March 13, 2011, 20:27 »

Is there just the one egg rcf?

RCF · « **Reply #24 on:** March 13, 2011, 15:24 »

Eaglet getting its first feeding

BirdLover · « **Reply #23 on:** March 17, 2010, 21:01 »

Yeah, don't think I'll be going back anytime soon. Give me a hummingbird anytime! LOL

carly · « **Reply #22 on:** March 17, 2010, 17:53 »

Quote from: BirdLover on March 17, 2010, 17:43

I just watched a feeding at the nest One of those eaglets is really aggressive. Was bashing it's head into one of the other chicks til the one it was bashing lay down. Then it grabbed the back of the head of the one in front of it and shook back and forth til that one lay down too! I didn't realize that they were like that at such a young age.

Sure glad we don't see that behaviour every day.

And that's exactly why I don't watch them anymore. If there is one in the nest I have no problem but I can't handle the abuse of the dominant ones.

BirdLover · « **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2010, 17:43 »

I just watched a feeding at the nest

One of those eaglets is really aggressive. Was bashing it's head into one of the other chicks til the one it was bashing lay down. Then it grabbed the back of the head of the one in front of it and shook back and forth til that one lay down too! I didn't realize that they were like that at such a young age.

Sure glad we don't see that behaviour every day.

jadoo · « **Reply #20 on:** March 16, 2010, 11:24 »

...there was, just a minute ago, a close-up of a 3-chick pile - cute! and they are already getting aggressive going for the food in mom's beak...

Pam · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2010, 21:44 »

Saw a great feed earlier today. The feed says that there really are 3 eaglets, but I sure couldn't see the third!! Interesting that the comment feed is a Q&A, though I suspect that the moderators answer the same questions again and again!

BirdLover · « **Reply #18 on:** March 13, 2010, 16:01 »

This is a very cool cam. I too got to see the feed and am amazed at how alert the eaglets are when only a couple of days old. The eldest was sitting up looking around as the adult very carefully fed tiny pieces of salmon to the youngest. So sweet.

bcbird · « **Reply #17 on:** March 13, 2010, 15:53 »

She did a nice job of feeding both, even the hours old one who seemed to be barely able to stay upright.

What a great job of zooming in on the action as well.

Pam · « **Reply #16 on:** March 13, 2010, 15:49 »

they are so tiny at this stage, that huge beak managing to put food into those little mouths!

bcbird · « **Reply #15 on:** March 13, 2010, 15:46 »

From the eagle nest blog:

The second eaglet hatched during the night. The exact time of hatching was not observed so midnight March 13 is the time that will be used as official time. At 12:30 while the two eaglets were being fed the third egg clearly shows that a hole has been pipped, so we can expect a third hatchling very soon.

bev. · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2010, 16:36 »

i think late tonight or early tomorrow. You could see egg move.

:)the closer together they are the better

bcbird · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2010, 16:13 »

A pip is confirmed on the second egg! What a miserable day of rain and wind it looks for the very soaked parent keeping tight to the nest!

bev. · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2010, 11:41 »

they do have a night light here but it has been foggy as of late. really wet today too soon for another hatch. Maybe tomorrow late

Slideshow before the big event and one shot after

bcbird · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2010, 22:23 »

Both parents are now at the nest, and the sitting one has been quite restless. I wonder is another hatch is imminent? I guess there is just enough ambient light to make visible the white heads in the dark. Oh, the parents have switched duty giving a glimpse of white egg and greyish movement of chick, before the tucking in.

BirdLover · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2010, 17:49 »

I don't know bcbird. All I can see now is the adult white head.

bcbird · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2010, 17:31 »

Birdlover, do you know if there is a light close by, those are fairly deep shadows for evening?

BirdLover · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2010, 17:27 »

Looks like they are tucked in for the night.

bcbird · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2010, 17:26 »

Just checked and saw parent looking intently at wobbling chick and yet unhatched eggs. Then with careful stepping and shuggling the chick and eggs were safely tucked under.

BirdLover · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2010, 14:03 »

We have a chick!

bev. · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2010, 08:23 »

At least one egg ready to hatch at Norfolk any minute now. she has been antsy since yesterday

bev. · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2010, 15:21 »

they have 3 eggs - this a huge nest and all you have to do is go on their site and go into last years archives to see how big it is when the biologists goes to retrieve the eagles for banding. It is bigger than it looks

here are few slideshows I did a week ago

slideshow 1
slideshow 2

Pam · « **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2010, 16:32 »

Great cam, thanks! The nest looks small to me?

jadoo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2010, 13:23 »

Quote from: bev. on February 03, 2010, 12:43

If you want a great cam watch this one. I have watched it for 3 years now. Second egg laid today. this site has great info and pictures and the cam is manned by zoomers who are the best

http://www.wvec.com/marketplace/microsite-content/eagle-cam.html

...WOW...great view - looks almost 3-D!!!

bev. · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2010, 12:43 »

If you want a great cam watch this one. I have watched it for 3 years now. Second egg laid today. this site has great info and pictures and the cam is manned by zoomers who are the best

http://www.wvec.com/marketplace/microsite-content/eagle-cam.html