NORFOLK
– This Mother's Day, Norfolk Botanical
Garden is pleased to share the first photos of our newest
addition!
Look
at that baby face! The youngest member of our family --
an American Bald Eagle -- hatched around March 19 th. Yesterday
was the first time we were able to capture a close-up glimpse
of the baby bird.
In
this picture, the adult female sits on a nearby branch while
the eaglet shows off its massive six to seven foot wingspan.
Right now the young bird is “branching”, or flapping its
wings to build up muscles before trying to fly. When it
feels the time is right – within the next couple of weeks
– the eaglet will take its first steps off of a tree limb
80 feet in the air!
If
you haven't been to the Garden lately, now's the time. It's
not very often humans get to watch the progress of eaglets
as they mature.
The
American Bald Eagle family lives in an 85-foot Loblolly
Pine Tree adjacent to Renaissance Court. The enormous nest
can be seen from several places in the Garden, but can be
best viewed from NATO Tower. Bald Eagles rarely build their
nests where they are visible to the public, so this is truly
a unique opportunity!
If
you'd like to learn more about the Bald Eagles, special
talks are scheduled most weekends. Call or stop by Baker
Hall Visitor Center for days and times.
Photographs
courtesy: Reese Lukei, May 2005
Norfolk
Botanical Garden \ 6700 Azalea Garden Road , Norfolk , Virginia
23518-5337
\
757-441-5830 \ www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org \
