Third bald eaglet hatches at Norfolk Botanical Garden

Posted to: News Norfolk
Login or register to post comments

The eaglet, shown here being tended by a parent, hatched 36 days after the egg was laid, which is within a normal range. (Norfolk Botanical Garden)

By Debbie Messina
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 25, 2009

NORFOLK

The third and final egg in the bald eagle’s nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden hatched about 7:12 a.m. Wednesday.

The first two eggs hatched Saturday and Sunday.

Biologists were getting worried about the vitality of the last eaglet. It poked its first hole in the egg on Sunday. Typically eaglets then break free from the shell within 24 hours.

“Everything is looking good,” garden spokeswoman Amy Dagnall said.

The eaglet hatched 36 days after the egg was laid, which is within a normal range. Bald eagle eggs hatch about 35 days after being laid, although in the past this pair has generally incubated eggs for 37 days.

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries wildlife biologist Stephen Living wrote in a blog this morning: “...you can see the third chick raise its head as the adult female feeds the siblings. The youngest eaglet is still a bit damp and tired but the fact that it is interested in the food being offered is a good sign. Once it is able to raise its head the adults will begin to feed it as well.”

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for following agreed-upon rules of civility. Comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its Web sites. Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the "Report Violation" link below the comment.

Eaglets being born

Submitted by wallyp36969 on Wed, 03/25/2009 at 10:47 pm.

Nature at it's best! So cool.

wow, all positive!!

Submitted by susiqfc on Wed, 03/25/2009 at 9:04 pm.

i had to smile after reading the other comments, not one bad comment!!...is that a first?...finally, there is something positive to read and see!

Some good local news

Submitted by markk33831 on Wed, 03/25/2009 at 7:24 pm.

Three new bald eagles hatched into the world: now that's some good local news. It is great how the Botanical Gardens have made space for them and set things up so people can easily view them both on and off line. Great job VP and the Gardens! The Norfolk Botanical Gardens are a real gem for the area. Membership there gets you in free at the other three botanical gardens in the state. It is well worth it!

Got it.

Submitted by JET on Wed, 03/25/2009 at 6:40 pm.

thanks MTMSR, the link works great. clear as a bell.

Eagle Cam

Submitted by MTMSR on Wed, 03/25/2009 at 6:12 pm.

The Eagle Cam is on WVEC's website. It's a great show. The link is http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html.

webcam

Submitted by JET on Wed, 03/25/2009 at 5:52 pm.

Anybody have a link to the webcam or the address to go to?

Precious!

Submitted by pLamastra on Wed, 03/25/2009 at 5:11 pm.

I watch the EagleCam everyday! It's such a pleasure to see something happy and exciting instead of the gloom & doom news.

The Mom & Dad are awesome....they share the feeding and sitting to keep the babies warm.

the coolest thing!

Submitted by susiqfc on Wed, 03/25/2009 at 1:58 pm.

if you haven't checked out the eagle cam, you should!! it is so cool to be watching these birds in "real time"...check it out! educational for the kids, teachers should be showing this too!

sure hope

Submitted by iqdou on Wed, 03/25/2009 at 12:26 pm.

the eagle parents don't overlook the newest baby because of size. I wonder if there's a rescue plan in place should it be noticed #3 not getting fed as much and growing appropriately...