Three eaglets on Eagle Cam!!!

[Lunachick]

I am so sad right now. I watched the banding and was so excited to be a part of it................they are going to the Wildlife Center in Waynesboro, VA.

I hope they do a cam there................

poor eagle family.

Yes tdgill - at least the eagles in general are making a BIG comeback. Thanks for starting this link.

 

[cackydoodledoo]

I missed seeing them taken out of the nest but read the blog and they are all safe and sound which makes me feel much better. A good ending in my opinion.

 

[Lunachick]

An empty nest............

Can't look anymore

 

[terrilhb]

I want to stop watching because it breaks my heart. But I want to see the dad one more time. Than maybe I can.

 

[Travilah]

Do eagles mate for life? And will male still use that nest site in future if another mate is found?

 

[backdoorchicken]

they do mate for life and chances are he will find a new mate but they are not sure if he will return to the NBG.

 

[backdoorchicken]

i believe i now have empty nest syndrome

 

[carolinagirl58]

The father returned to the nest today with a fish for his babies. He sat there for a while, looking and listening for them. Finally he ate the fish and flew off. He will be OK. He will take a new mate and probably return to the nest next year. The chicks are safe. This is where they are http://www.wildlifecenter.org/ This place needs donations! The reason they decided to take the chicks is because over the next 2 months, they will triple in size. It is doubtful that a single eagle could provide for their needs. If one chick weakened, the other would push it out of the nest or kill it. Taking all 3 improves the chances that all will survive and be released into the wild later this year.

 

[backdoorchicken]

http://www.wildlifecenter.org/wp/norfolk-botanical-garden-eagle/

 

[backdoorchicken]

NORFOLK, VA (April 27, 2011) – The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) has confirmed that the female of the eagle pair nesting at Norfolk Botanical Garden was killed by an airplane strike yesterday morning. VDGIF wildlife biologists, acting on concerns that the adult male will not be able to provide sufficient food for the three five-week-old eaglets, determined that the birds should be removed from the nest. While the male may be able to meet the needs of the chicks in the near term, the amount of food they will require as they grow will increase exponentially, likely exceeding the hunting capacity of even the most capable provider.

A number of options were considered as the VDGIF assessed the situation, including no intervention, providing supplemental food for the chicks, or separating them for placement in the nests of other eagles. Ultimately, the biologists and agency eagle expert determined that the most appropriate response would be to remove the eaglets and transport them to The Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV). There the birds can be reared in specialized facilities and cared for by trained, permitted eagle rehabilitators until they are old enough to be released back into the wild.

According to VDGIF Biologist Stephen Living, “The agency recognizes that there is a very high degree of public investment in these birds. Thousands of people worldwide have watched these eagles over the years and followed their progress.”

Living continued, “Without intervention, it is all but certain that one or more of these eaglets would not survive the next three months. Pulling the birds and sending them to the Wildlife Center gives them their best chance. The birds are already old enough to know that they are eagles and to recognize their siblings. Maintaining them as a family unit and releasing them together when they are ready to go will certainly improve their survival potential.”

Nuckols Tree Care Service is assisting with the removal of the eaglets from the nest. They had participated in the banding of the eaglets that took place on April 21 and have been long-time supporters of the Eagle Cam project at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

At WCV the eaglets’ health will be evaluated and monitored closely throughout their treatment. They will be placed in an artificial nest that has been constructed in the Center’s 200-foot eagle flight cage. Other adult Bald Eagle patients may also be in this enclosure. While the chicks will be separated by a physical barrier from direct contact with other eagles, the eaglets will be able to see other eagles flying and feeding. As they begin to fledge, the barrier will be removed and the young eagles will have full access to the long enclosure, to build their wing strength and to learn to fly. The goal would be to get the young eagles ready for release back into the wild this summer.

In 2008, an eaglet was removed from NBG because it had a growth on its beak caused by avian pox. That bird – known as Buddy – is not able to be released back into the wild and still resides at the Wildlife Center and serves as an education bird.

According to Don Buma, Executive Director of Norfolk Botanical Garden, “The eagles have put Norfolk Botanical Garden on the map. They have increased awareness and developed an appreciation of nature for millions of school children and Eagle Cam viewers from around the world.”​