BALD EAGLE POPULATION
CONTINUES TO GROW AT THE GARDEN
Web camera provides birds-eye view of nesting eagles at Norfolk Botanical Garden
Norfolk, VA (February 7, 2007) -- After months of watching and waiting, on January 31, an eagle egg was spotted in a nest high above Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG). The second egg appeared in the nest February 4 and today, a third egg arrived. Observers were able to catch all the activity by way of a web cam strategically placed in a nearby tree. The uninterrupted view of the bald eagles is currently available online for the world to see at www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org
The bald eagles were spotted in November 2006 making additions to the 800-pound nest that they originally built in 2003. This year marks the fourth year that the nesting pair has returned to their perch in an 85-foot tall loblolly pine tree adjacent to the Garden’s Renaissance Court. The first eaglet is expected to hatch between March 4th and 6th.
Through a unique partnership with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), WVEC TV and Norfolk Botanical Garden, students and parents will have a rare opportunity to witness key moments in the life of bald eagles. Classrooms and homes now have access to the eagles‘ activities via the new website. Visitors to the Garden also can view the eagles through a spotting scope near the nest or can watch the live video from the Visitors Center.
“This up close view of bald eagles in their natural environment provides us with a rare chance to learn more about the species,” said VDGIF Watchable Wildlife Biologist Stephen Living.
The webcam provides a clear picture and a new still photo of the nest every 15 seconds.
In addition to the webcam, VDGIF has simultaneously launched a blog with expert information provided by Mr. Living.
The weatherproof webcam, along with supporting equipment and antennas, was set up in the winter of 2005-2006 by NBG staff with the assistance of VDGIF. The webcam is encased in a clear weatherproof housing that allows the camera to rotate inside. The video is seen as live video in the NBG visitor center and it is slowed down for Internet streaming. Last year, still images were refreshed once per second. This year, the speed has been boosted to 15 times per second --28 frames per second are the same as live video.
The Garden is proud to welcome the eagles each year and is thrilled that the pair are thriving.
“We are pleased to be partnering with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and WVEC to present this wonderful opportunity for the public to interact with nature and the environment,” said Don Buma, executive director for Norfolk Botanical Garden. “We hope that people will come to the Garden where they will see the eagles live and in their natural habitat.”
According to VDGIF, eagle populations have recovered significantly since the banning of DDT in the 1970s. Since then, extensive work has been done to protect habitats and to monitor populations. Virginia has the largest breeding population in the Chesapeake Bay region.
Nationally, bald eagles were first listed as an endangered species in 1978, and were downgraded from an "endangered" to "threatened" species in 1995. It is anticipated that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will delist bald eagles this year. In 2006, the Center for Conservation Biology at The College of William & Mary under contract by VDGIF located 485 occupied territories in Virginia of which 469 had active nests that produced 705 eagle chicks. The eagle pair at NBG is the only pair located in Norfolk.
For more information about the eagles, visit the Norfolk Botanical Garden for educational tours and talks or go to their website at www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org.
About Bald Eagles
Eagles generally are monogamous. Adult male and female birds will remain together for years as a mating pair and will return to the same territory each year to breed. Both adult birds share responsibility for raising the chicks. In Virginia, they generally lay their eggs, which are about twice the size of a chicken egg, between January and March. Bald eagles incubate their eggs for about 35 days. They begin incubation as soon as the first egg is laid. The second egg usually appears within 36 to 72 hours after the first. Occasionally, a clutch of three eggs will be produced but two eggs are more common. The eaglet will measure four to five inches at hatching and weigh only a few ounces.
About the VDGIF
It is the mission of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth; to provide opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife, inland fish, boating, and related outdoor recreation; and to promote safety for persons and property in connection with these outdoor activities. For more information on wildlife and outdoor recreation in Virginia visit the Department’s website at http://www.dgif.virginia.gov
About Norfolk Botanical Garden
Norfolk Botanical Garden is dedicated to enriching life by promoting the enjoyment of plants and the environment through beautiful gardens and education programs. The Garden is managed by the Norfolk Botanical Garden Society in cooperation with the City of Norfolk. Now recognized as a Virginia Historic Landmark, it also is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Norfolk Botanical Garden is located at 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, Virginia 23518. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and military, $5 for children ages 13 – 18, $4 for children ages 4 – 12, and free to children under 3 with a parent. For more information, visit www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org.
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