Last Norfolk Botanical Garden eagle soars to freedom

Posted to: Environment News Virginia
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By Joanne Kimberlin
The Virginian-Pilot
© August 31, 2011

She didn't exactly seize her freedom, but the last young bald eagle from Norfolk Botanical Garden is finally on her own.

NX - the letters on her leg band - was released Tuesday morning near the James River, a do-over after she refused to fly away when she and her sibling were first launched in July.

For a while, it appeared her second chance might end much the same way. Driven to Charles City County from the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro, where the three eaglets were raised after their mother was killed by a jet in April, NX was tossed aloft before a crowd of about 130 fans.

But instead of soaring into the open sky as expected, NX banked into a stand of nearby trees. Prodded by staff at the center, she was finally persuaded to take to the air and head downriver.

"She went on out of sight," said Dave McRuer, a veterinarian at the center. "We were very pleased."

That is, until they followed. A short walk revealed NX sitting on the riverbank. Startled by her handlers, she flew up into yet another tree.

"But this time she was about 20 feet up," McRuer said, "so we just backed away and left her there. I suspect she's getting her bearings. She's just a little slow."

Unlike with her siblings, or the dozens of other eagles the center has treated and released, NX's fate will be known, at least for the short term. She's wearing a transmitter, about the size of a deck of cards, that will track her movements for two years.

"Whether the news is good or bad, we want to know," said Ed Clark, the center's president.

NX's data will be used to study the impact of airports and wind turbines on raptors. Updates on her position will be posted on the wildlife center's website (www.wildlifecenter.org).

For now, though, the transmitter will let biologists know if NX ever leaves her tree.

"We'll give her two or three days," McRuer said. "If she doesn't move, we'll go back and get her. Of course, there's no guarantee we could catch her now if we wanted to."

Joanne Kimberlin, (757) 446-2338, joanne.kimberlin@pilotonline.com

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EAGLES

Submitted by katieg on Thu, 09/01/2011 at 11:50 pm.

WCV does a great job managing what comes to them... this sad story of the three eaglets will hopefully have a happy ending. The choices that were made to take these 3 out of the nest, were made with the hope of releasing 3 strong healthy birds and that has been a success.

eagles

Submitted by leadfootjen36 on Thu, 09/01/2011 at 10:16 am.

I agree. These eaglets should have been left alone so their papa could take care of them. He was clearly up for the job bc he showed up to feed them. Food could have been planted for him to find if tgere was a concern of him being overwhelmed. Couldnt the family have been kept together, even if humans were going to take control? Im glad her siblings have adjusted well, and i hope she continues to do so.

Eagle has already returned

Submitted by walkingshadow on Wed, 08/31/2011 at 3:30 pm.

I saw her catching a pigeon yesterday. She had pinned it down in the middle of a residential street. I waited a couple of minutes than blew my horn the pigeon escaped and the eagle was off after it in a shot. Wish I had used my camera phone.