Third Eaglet Hatches, W&M Wildlife Biologists Keeping Track

By WYDaily Staff Sunday, March 20, 2011

The Norfolk Botanical Garden's third and final eagle egg hatched late last week and Eagle Cam viewers have been able to see the newest addition to the NBG's flock. Many of those viewers are now wondering, "What happens next?"

According to Stephen Living, a wildlife biologist at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the journey has just begun.

"From here we'll watch as the adult eagles work to provide enough food to fuel the growth of the chicks,” Living said. “Young eagles grow at a spectacular rate and these parents have shown that they have the hunting skills and experience to do the job."

As the parents go to work hunting for their newly hatched chicks, fans of the eagles at Norfolk Botanical Garden continue to cheer on this dynamic duo and watch their daily behavior through the Eagle Cam. The live stream of the video has been down, but generally viewers may click here to see the goings-on at the nest, which WVEC.com hosts, with support on blogs from wildlife biologists with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the College of William and Mary's Center for Conservation Biology.

The W&M blog, however, had still photos posted of a Sunday sunrise breakfast for the eaglet trio. Click here to see those photos, along with a W&M wildlife biologist's answer to the frequently asked question, "Where are an eagle's ears?" and photos to point out the location visible only for the first couple weeks of an eaglet's life.

The Eagle Cam has provided a unique and close-up view into the daily lives of a Bald Eagle pair that has nested at the Norfolk Botanical Garden for eight years.

NBG eagle enthusiasts can stay updated easily on the young family's progress by clicking the "like" button on the Eagles at the Norfolk Botanical Garden Facebook page.