Norfolk Eagles in their new nest

[Dumpsterkitty]

What a busy news day!   First Amanda at WCV posted this note...

"October 27:  NX’s last “check-inâ€� was on October 11; her last reported location was on the Little Wicomico River, near Ophelia. Wildlife Center staff consulted with the VDGIF biologists who fitted NX with the transmitter to inquire about other Bald Eagles in Virginia with transmitters — they confirmed that the other eagles that have been outfitted with these “cell-phoneâ€� transmitters routinely go in and out of cell coverage areas — sometimes for weeks at a time.

Since one DGIF biologist is near Ophelia, she offered to go out to the last known coordinates of NX just to check out the area.

On October 26, she visited NX’s favorite hang-out.  Apparently the pine tree was fairly “white-washedâ€�; the biologist also found a pile of fish bones (old and new) underneath it and a feather from a juvenile Bald Eagle — signs that someone had definitely been hanging out in the area!  When she first arrived, the biologist also flushed a juvenile eagle from a nearby tree, but she was unable to tell if the bird was wearing a transmitter.  

The Wildlife Center staff will continue to check NX’s transmitter data daily and will report when we next hear something.  In the meantime, nothing to do but to wait for NX to “phone homeâ€�. "

Then, just as she was typing into the chat to check the update, NX finally phoned home!

"October 27  12:37 p.m.:  After 16 days of not checking in … NX checked in!  It turns out that over the past two weeks, NX has been in the same general area of the Little Wicomico River.  She did venture off on another trip from Hanson’s Cove to Vir-Mar Beach.  This trip is very similar to the one she took at the beginning of October, when she was out of cell range for five days [see October 6 posting below].  After looking at the data on where NX was yesterday, we can conclude that she was not the juvenile eagle that the DGIF biologist flushed from the woods near NX’s  â€�usualâ€� spot."



Then there was a post on FB that Barbara Melton had gotten pictures of NX!  Upon review by CCB it was determined that it was actually her big sister Azalea from 2009!



from FB Album by Barbara Melton

And Camellia from 2010 has been hanging out at NBG for a few days now.  Phew!  I think that's all!

[Donna]

  That is a lot for one day!! All good news though! NX, Azalea and Camillia. Dats alotta eagles!

[Dumpsterkitty]

That is a lot for one day!! All good news though! NX, Azalea and Camillia. Dats alotta eagles!

And there's more!  The new female was caught roosting in the nest tree!

CCB Blog

 
 

from NBG eaglecam

[Donna]

That is a lot for one day!! All good news though! NX, Azalea and Camillia. Dats alotta eagles!

And there's more!  The new female was caught roosting in the nest tree!

CCB Blog

 
 

from NBG eaglecam

Dats alotta females in one day!! Great news though.

[Kris G.]

That is a lot for one day!! All good news though! NX, Azalea and Camillia. Dats alotta eagles!

And there's more!  The new female was caught roosting in the nest tree!

CCB Blog

 

 

from NBG eaglecam

 

[Dumpsterkitty]

Another update from Monday...

CCB Blog

Both the adult eagles were in the nest by 7:10 this morning. The female left twice and returned without sticks then flew without returning. The male went out three times to get sticks then left at 8:10, likely until late this evening. Closeups of the male.

[Donna]

Eagles at Norfolk Botanical Garden
How old is the new female in 'Dad Norfolk's' life? According to Reese Lukei, "This morning (11/6) the female returned to the nest tree when there was good light and posed for the web cam. A few weeks ago Dr. Bryan Watts and I conferred as to the age of the new NBG female and concluded that she is a first year breeding age bald eagle. What are the indicators? The very pale yellow, almost grey eye color. Head feathers still have a brown tinge behind both eyes, the cheek and below her beak."

[Donna]

Working together, dad and new girl!

[MAK]

 

[Donna]

http://youtu.be/VCUwfr6GpRU Buddy's new home...it's beautiful!

[MAK]

  What a great place! 

[Annette]

Buddy has a nice new home! 

[Donna]

Eagles at Norfolk Botanical Garden

Rain has delayed the planned installation of cameras this morning. But it didn't stop DGIF biologist Steve Living from helping us scout locations for camera placement ... and a microphone.   

[Kris G.]

Eagles at Norfolk Botanical Garden

Rain has delayed the planned installation of cameras this morning. But it didn't stop DGIF biologist Steve Living from helping us scout locations for camera placement ... and a microphone.   

[Donna]

'Last evening Camellia was across from the Admin. building [at Norfolk Botanical Garden].' -- Reese Lukei


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QSOfy_XOMXA#! sneak peak of the drive thru lights at Norfolk. Beautiful

A million bulbs!!