VIRGINIA BEACH
Citizen scientists have done it again!
This time, a group of eagle watchers at Honey Bee Golf Club have learned that one of the bald eagles born and banded at Norfolk Botanical Garden is establishing nesting territory at the golf course.
How young eagles establish nesting territoryis not well known. But our dedicated citizen scientists who have camerasthat can pick up bird bands and their numbers are adding information to the puzzle.
Reese Lukei, a volunteer research associate with the Center for Conservation Biology in Williamsburg, keeps an eye on local eagles. He writes a blog,
http://eaglenest.blogs.wm.edu, for the center about the eagles that were banded over the years in the garden's nests.
In a recent blog, Lukei wrote about "HK," one of the eagles that was banded at the garden four years ago. HK has been photographed often carrying sticks and even building a nest at Honey Bee.
HK's sister, Azalea, was the eagle equipped with a satellite transmitter at the garden. She has been tracked far and wide, but HK appears to be somewhat of a homebody, sticking around the golf course, Lukei wrote.
"With the assistance of several local eagle photographers, we know from their excellent photos that HK has stayed right around Honey Bee Golf Course for most of the year," he said.
That area of the North Landing River that flows through Honey Bee is full of food fish, and this time of year gizzard shad gather there to spawn. The abundance of food draws not only HK but severalother eagles, as well as herons, egrets and water birds of all kinds.
The area has become so well known that eagle watchers have a community Facebook page called Honey Beeagles, where they post their wonderful photos.
Lukei was excited to learn of HK's behaviorbecause not much is known about when and how a young eagle establishes territory. HK is 4 years old now and will be of breeding age next winter.
"It is not known why HK is sticking so close to Honey Bee, besides its being an excellent place to forage for fish," Lukei wrote. "HK is in the process of building a nest on the golf course."
All of this information is available thanks to our citizen scientists and Honey Beeagles photographers, like Cary Lynch, Beverly Nettleton, Jim Deal, Shelly Fowler, Bob Mislan and Pam Monahan. In his blog, Lukei thanked the photographers for "being so observant and providing photos for all to enjoy and learn from." See many of their photos on the Honey Beeagles Facebook page.
Though HK has been photographed with another eagle close by, it doesn't appear that he has a girlfriend.
Lukei watched HK take sticks to his nest for three days in a row but did not see a female. He came to the conclusion that HK was nest-building to establish his territory.
HK is not dumb! He must be thinking ahead to when he has a family and can settle down in an area where it will be easy for Dad to bring home the bacon.
HamptonRd.com
HK nest building
Banded female that was seen with HK from fb photo courtesy by James Deal
