A biopsy has confirmed that avian pox, a viral disease, is the cause of the growth on the bill of the baby eagle taken last week from its nest at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.
The illness poses no human health hazard and is spread through mosquitoes as well as from bird to bird in close contact. Symptoms include warty nodules on the featherless parts of the skin that can become enlarged, resulting in impairments to vision, breathing and feeding.
The month-old bird is being cared for at the Wildlife Center of Virginia near Waynesboro.
"We're a long way from giving this bird a positive prognosis, but it's not hopeless any more," Ed Clark, center president, said Thursday.
Wildlife experts feared the growth could be cancer. The center and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries are discussing treatment options, including surgery. Currently, the eaglet is being treated with antibiotics to fight infection, anti-fungal drugs to prevent diseases common to raptors in captivity and medications to help boost the immune system.
Clark said he's searching for a veterinarian who specializes in bird surgery to remove the growth and restore the beak.
"We're talking about going inside this bird's head - a kind of thing where there's not that much margin for error," he said.
If after treatment there is no long-term deterioration of the bone and beak, and if the bird poses no health concerns to other eagles, it will be released back into the wild. It would not be returned to its nest.
The eaglet, which is believed to be male, is otherwise healthy, Clark said. It has doubled in weight to about five pounds since it was removed from its nest and transported to the center last week. Updates on the eaglet's health can be found on two Web sites, www.dgif.virginia.gov and www.wildlifecenter.org.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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Good grief!
Some of you people are miserable sods!!!!
opps
As I stated, personal attacks accomplish nothing. May your day present you with the rewards you so justly deserve.
Oppps...
I just stepped on a grasshopper; I think I will light a candle for it. People only care about the cute and cuddly animals. Every animal has its place in nature, not just the ones that are cute. We care about the puppies, birdies, horseys, whales, tigers.... What about the bees that are dieing by the millions and other not so cute animals that are much more important then these... What about the thousands of trees cut down to build your cookie cutter, cardboard neighborhood? How many eagles lived there before you caused their home to be destroyed?
Love them all or don't was your time. What the hell does lighting a candle for a baby eagle accomplish? Are you showing support for the eagle’s family? I am sure mom and dad appreciate it greatly. Get a life and do something more productive to help the environment in general.
agree to an extent
Geo, personal attacks, I'll agree, accomplish nothing. Facts and SINCERE expressions of one's concern should, at least be respected. I, for one, would say what I posted to anyone face to face and not be fearful to do so and will continue to contribute and do what I can, even though small in the scheme of things, for this worthwhile cause. I even lit a candle for Poink. We all view things differently, the important thing is that we at least take the opportunity to view them. Let's all hope for a good outcome in this, appreciate those involved, and if possible help support VWC with a contribution.
Geostrophic
What specifically in just about every comment are you finding ridiculous? I would say again what I said to you or anybody else face to face.
um
Um, I would just like to add my two cents... just about everyone of these posts is ridiculous. I'd like to see if you would talk to each other like this in person. Have some heart (whether it be for the bird or for each other).
Willy
It's Bushes fault
I couldn't resist
All aside this is such a high profile subject with the webcam and all there was no way this wouldn't be elevated
If this was the wild unfortunately this precious little fledgling would have faded away and none of us would have been the wiser
That's Nature folks she's harsh and beautiful in equal measure
NBG
The Bald Eagle may no longer be on the endangered species list but he is surely not out of the woods yet. We are responsible for the struggles of these magnificent creatures due to our pollution and excessive land development. We need to care about and care for wildlife and the environment. "Until we extend our circle of compassion to include every living creature we cannot enjoy 'World PEACE'." Albert Schweitzer
NBG eaglet
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=buddy
This link was sent by eagle lovers light a candle for NBG eagle
The california eagle watchers call him Buddy
Since humans have the
Since humans have the technology and are in some peoples' opinions superior to animals, we are obligated to help whenever possible.
From an avid EA in Michigan
Our 'Poink' and his parents captured the hearts of many people all over the US and 18 foreign countries. There were several trials and tribulations at the NBG nest, but out of all of this came a baby eagle who really put NBG on the map, so to speak.
Tax dollars aren't paying for this eaglet to be tested, tax dollars aren't paying for any cure that hopefully can be found for him/her, and tax dollars aren't being 'wasted' as some of you say.
Donation dollars are helping our Poink, DONATION DOLLARS !
If you care for the animals, birds, and humans as much as you say you do, then contribute to NBG and VWC, help them help the unfortunate birds and animals(no doubt you contribute to human causes!). Norfolk Botanical Gardens and Virginia Wildlife Center are both non-profit organizations, and to my knowledge they do not receive TAX DOLLARS!
Please check all of the facts before you start spouting off about things you know nothing about.
Eaglet
I for one really admire all the veterinarians, wildlife specialists and all the people that are concerned about the eaglet. We who have watched this eagle cam have grown to love and care for the eagle parents and the little guy. I pray that he will be cured and able to fly some day just like his parents.
From the cheering section
For those that wanted the eaglet left for nature to take its course, Google "avian pox" and click "images." Its not a pretty sight. The bird would suffer a prolonged death...in front of millions of people. This way, at least they can attempt to treat it. Removing it also removes the chance of the disease spreading, via mosquitoes, throughout the eagle population. I agree, we waste a lot of money on drug rehab programs for people who chose to use drugs, so why not use money that is specifically designated for this purpose on this eagle. Besides, who is to say that this didn't use to be a human virus that mutated to one to infect birds. Maybe we gave it to them. Mosquitoes bite humans too. Anything is possible.
jamielee
I think you're getting your panties all in a wad over nothing and I certainly hope you are not directing your comments about babies to me. I, too, have been in the medical field as LONG as YOU have, love animals and children and could throw up when I see/hear of abuse or neglect cases involving either. Your comment about wasting money on humans - you being in the health field -- was a little heartless. Sure there are lots of useless humans but who are we to pick and choose who gets care and who doesn't? I've always said I much prefer animals over adult humans.
Kidnapped Eaglet. :)
Hopefully this Eaglet will survive, but Nature is an exacting taskmaster.
First and foremost, Nature is not your friend, and Nature will surely Kill you if you disobey its unrelenting protocol.
NBG Eagle
I have worked in the medical field for 30yrs. & have seen lots of money wasted on human beings. The money spent on this bird, which does not come out of YOUR pocket, is well spent & could one day provide volumes of information that could save YOUR life one day. Humans are not the only ones inhabiting this Earth. Have a heart - that poor baby needed help & with thousands of people watching, could not be left in that state. Would you leave a baby alone knowing it needed help?
I thought...
that global warming was caused by Eagle flatulence....so if we would have left him alone, maybe global warming would have ended....I also have some eagle land in Florida if someone wants to give me a few bucks...
And there you have it folks!
Blame the avian pox on Al Gore.
Yeah here we go
We got the global warming hype thing covered so when will it’s Bush's fault going to be posted?
More evidence of climate change
It appears that avian pox has only recently arrived in North America from warmer climates and is treated as an emerging disease.
Yet more proof of global climate change, as if we needed it.
NBG Eaglett
No tax dollars are being used to care for and treat Poink, just donations made by caring individuals. Bald eagles are still a protected species. The "cheering section" is strong, huge and proud! Since when is trying to save a life a problem, be it an animal or human being? Get well Poink, we hope to see your soaring over the Gardens soon!!
There we go again...
Man messing with nature. The bird is sick; man didn't make the bird sick. Let nature go its course. I love nature more then most people but I do believe in not messing with the natural order of things. Cleaning birds covered with oil from a man made oil tanker disaster is one thing but man had nothing to do with this so let nature take care of it. Here is the ultimate irony; we cure the bird and the pox goes dormant, we release the bird back into the wild, then the pox mutates into a strain that can pass on to humans, now we have a bird pox epidemic killing millions of Americans. We did it to our selves. Sounds like a good movie to me.
squirrelly
EXCELLENT POINTS!!!!! Why didn't I think of those??!!
Wonder what the cheering section thinks.
on second thought....
maybe the poor thing should have been left alone to be fed and continue to grow with it's PARENTS instead of being taken away for treatment of something that may kill it or the humans may kill it in their zeal to cure the pox.
....cheering section......whoopdeedo.
Down the road, a small child is sick.....
and while we spend thousands of dollars and man hours on an incredible Bird, we do nothing for the child. This is not what mother nature intended. The Eagle is no longer on the endangered species list, so this is crazy.
Oh good grief....
don't be so thin-skinned and defensive. Any 'child' taken from a parent, to me, is considered kidnapped. It's just an EXPRESSION.
NBG eaglet
in the first place the eaglet was not "kidnaped".
It was taken from the nest in order to find out what the growth is.
It is being taken care of by dedicated personal at the Virginia Wildlife center.
This eaglet has a cheering section world wide wishing the best for it.
No matter the outcome it will be helping other raptors with the findings the center makes.
God speed Poink. We are all saying a prayer for you.
i did a little googling...
on this avian pox and it is transmissible. That little eaglets beak doesn't look too horribly affected. I would have to wonder whether he/she contracted it from the parents and will there be any attempts to kidnap them and treat them too!
To the last poster - thanks for reminding me about instinct, survival, animals and humans. I know all this --- but my human [FEMALE!] instincts have a hard time comprehending. But then I worry about cats, dogs, fish, lizards, mosquitoes, ants, worms, etc., etc....
They are Eagles, not people
I'm sure that their insticts kicked in to protect their eaglets and that caused them a moment or two of distress. But these are wild animals, not people. Wild animals do what they have to to survive and ensure the survival of their species, they don't worry about the baby once it's gone. They can't afford to. How often do "mama" animals abandon the weakest of the litter to make sure the strongest thrive? It's about instinct, not emotion. Anyway, I do hope the eaglet does well.
avian pox
Does anyone know if the parents have this disease too?