High-flying family fun is what you’ll find at Norfolk Botanical Garden this weekend! Early Thursday, the oldest of three American Bald Eagles took her first flight. On Friday, her younger brother followed. Reese Lukei, a Research Associate at the Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary has been keeping a close eye on the birds. He says the youngest of the three, who hatched several days later than the first two, is expected to spread his own wings sometime this weekend. The smallest eaglet can be seen flapping on a limb about 10 feet from the nest, but it may be Saturday or Sunday before he really takes off.
The eaglets hatched in March, right on schedule, about 11 weeks ago. The baby birds are actually pretty big -- they each have a wingspan of about six feet and weigh close to nine pounds. Right now they live with their parents in a nest about 90 feet up in a loblolly pine tree overlooking the Matson Garden and Renaissance Court. Even after they’re out of the nest, the juveniles will still come back to eat for a few weeks. Then they’ll wander off and be on their own.
The Garden now offers several ways to get an up close look at the eagles. Thanks to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, there’s a new viewing scope between NATO Tower and the Tropical Garden. With 20 times magnification, this scope offers a rare glimpse of the eagles. It’s also close to the ground, making it kid-friendly and easily accessible for wheelchair users. Because the birds are protected by federal law, without a viewing scope, the closest visitors can get during nesting season is on the Garden’s waterways. Boat tours run every hour, and special talks and tours are scheduled daily. Check at Baker Hall Visitor Center for times. While you’re there, check out the two computer monitors. They’re broadcasting live images from the Eagle Cam, which is trained on the nest from above. Still images and more information can be found on our Web site, www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org.
This is the third year the adult eagles have made their home at Norfolk Botanical Garden. We hope they’ll come back to our big backyard next nesting season – but they’re not gone yet. Bring your family out to see theirs while they’re still circling around our skies!
The mission of Norfolk Botanical Garden is to enrich life by promoting the enjoyment of plants and the environment through beautiful gardens and educational programs.
Norfolk Botanical Garden is managed by the Norfolk Botanical Garden Society in cooperation with the City of Norfolk.
www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org
