ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:
Julia Dixon, VDGIF
(804) 367-0991
Pete McElveen, WVEC
(757) 628-5841
HAMPTON ROADS EAGLE CAM GOES “LIVE” ON THE WEB
Through a public-private partnership with WVEC.com and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Norfolk Botanical Garden’s family of American Bald eagles can now be viewed live on the internet at www.wvec.com. Two cameras, courtesy of VDGIF, are trained on the enormous nest 24 hours a day. Hosted by WVEC.com, live streaming video is available online.
This is the third year the birds have nested at the Garden, but the first time cameras are in place so that visitors can get a look at the real-life nature lesson. Under the watchful eyes of raptor fans, the eagle family grew in March when three eaglets hatched in the nest. The eaglets are expected to take their first flights around Memorial Day, but there will be plenty of excitement to see between now and then. The eaglets, just chick-sized a few weeks ago, will grow to a wingspan of about 7 feet within months. Soon they’ll also start “branching”, or flapping their wings to build up muscles before they try to fly.
Viewing the birds will be a rare and wonderful opportunity for wildlife enthusiasts. It’s not very often humans can get close enough to watch the progress of eaglets as they mature. To help Web surfers understand what they’re seeing on the WVEC site, the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries has simultaneously launched a blog with expert information provided by a DGIF wildlife biologist.
The American Bald eagle family lives in an 85-foot loblolly pine tree adjacent to Renaissance Court. The massive nest, weighing between 600 and 800 pounds, can be seen from several places in the Garden, including NATO Tower. In addition to the telescope at the top of the Tower, the Department of Game & Inland Fisheries has added a wheelchair-friendly scope at the Tower’s base, directly across the narrow canal from the nest. During breeding season (December-July), however, the closest visitors can get to the nest is on the Garden’s waterways. Hourly boat tours from early April until mid-October run near the shoreline and the adults can be seen flying to and from the nest on their frequent fishing trips.
For those who’d like to learn more about the eagles in person, special talks are scheduled at the Garden most weekends. Visit www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org for days and times.
The mission of NorfolkBotanical Garden is to enrich life by promoting the enjoyment of plants and the environment through beautiful gardens and educational programs. The garden is open to the public 365 days a year. Visit www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org for photos, hours, special events and other information.
