Saving...
Norfolk Botanical Garden Eagles by Jaime Hall
Norfolk Botanical Gardens is home to a very popular eagle’s nest. Cams were installed in the nest to provide education to people all over the world. Next to the Botanical Gardens is the Norfolk International Airport. The airport shares property with the Botanical Gardens due to an expansion by the airport onto the gardens property. The two eagles built a nest on the airport property. In 2002 the male was struck by an airplane and killed. Due to the strike, the airport got permission to remove the nest in hopes the female eagle would move into the gardens and make it her new home. In 2003 she did just that. Since 2003 (19) eaglets have hatched and (15) successfully fledged from the nest. Last year the female eagle was struck and killed by an airplane landing at the airport. This left her new mate residing in the garden looking for a new female to start the cycle all over again. Due to the strike the Norfolk airport is requesting for permission to remove the nest from the gardens stating it is a safety risk to humans and eagles..
I visited the nest and gardens just recently. The airport is surrounded by woods and water. Eagles are not the vast majority in the area. There are so many other birds that pose a bigger threat to the airport than the eagles. The runway ends in front of a body of water. It seems to me that gulls and other water fouls pose more of a risk. Since 1990 the airport reported 505 strikes. Of those (505) strikes, (4) were reported to be eagles. Of those (4), (2) were struck by planes and (2) were found dead near/on the runway with no strike reported. So why are these eagles being singled out? Is this political? If the nest is removed, what’s to stop the eagles from rebuilding near the airport again? If they do, what’s to stop one from getting hit by a plane? In this case the politicians can say, we tried, we removed the nest. But if they don’t it could fall back on them that they failed to take action.
Last year when the female was killed her (3) eaglets were removed and taken to the Wildlife Center of Virginia. WCV raised the eaglets and all (3) successfully fledged. This terrible tragedy brought a tremendous amount of money into Virginia. People from all over the world donated money to WCV for the eaglets and to get a cam up and running to watch these beautiful creatures. Money was donated to the gardens. The gardens also received money for a beautiful statue in memory of the female eagle. This year the garden is holding Eagle Fest on May 5. During this they will educate you even more on these magnificent birds. People from around the world will be showing up in VA for this festival. Virginia, the gardens and yes, the Norfolk Airport will be making a tremendous amount of money because (2) eagles choose to make the Botanical Gardens their home. Now the airport who will also be making money from that event are trying to force them out.
The male remains at the gardens; this is his territory it’s a slim chance that he will not try to rebuild in the same area he has called home for 9 years now. Reese Lukei is a biologist that deals with the Botanical Gardens eagles. He stated that he feels the male will not leave. That he will more than likely try to remain in the gardens. The eagles are going to feed at the same places. More and more eagles come every year. The gardens are a perfect habitat for them.
Birds are dislocated in nature all of the time and start again. That doesn’t mean they don’t suffer great losses from it. How many times will they continue to try to force the eagles away from their home?.
Please see links below with more information:
Norfolk Botanical Gardens: http://www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/home
Eagles nest history: http://www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/e-community/eagle-cam/eagle-nest-history
FAA Strike report
http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/wildlife/default.aspx
Search the database
Select Airport, Choose Norfolk International, hit submit
Dates: 4/26/11, 4/12/11, 7/16/05, 12/25/02
Nest removal discussions
http://eaglecam.tumblr.com/
http://asktheexpert.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5355/~/why-is-usda-recommending-removal-of-an-eagle-nest-in-norfolk,-virginia%3F
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&ved=0CDEQFjAAOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aphis.usda.gov%2Fwildlife_damage%2Fstate_office%2Fvirginia_faq.shtml&ei=jbKNT5q-B-Po0QHrtKXIDw&usg=AFQjCNH_A4Rm1ddvmpvkgUqrJj8pKsl4AQ
Reese Lukei Blog
http://eaglenest.blogs.wm.edu/
Some similar situations with airports:
http://www.flyerspulse.com/2012/01/03/bird-strikes-from-portland-to-fort-lauderdale/
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Bird_Strike
http://www.flyerspulse.com/
If you agree and want to show your support, please sign our petition
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/935/260/788/stop-the-removal-of-the-norfolk-botanical-garden-eagle-nest/
This is beyond ridiculous. Removing the nest will NOT make it safer at the airport. Dad Norfolk will build a new nest in the Garden and hundreds, if not thousands, of other birds will still be flying in the area. Having an eagle killed by a landing plane is a lot different from a flock of Geese that that can actually bring down a plane (East River landing). They can’t eliminate all birds and it is stupid to take their problems out on the eagles. They can get radar that will detect anything on the runways from the ground up and alert planes that there are birds in the area. Birds are wildlife and they do what they please, not what us humans want them to do. And it seems to me that if the Garden is Dad Norfolk’s territory, he will be keeping other eagles out of the area. Remove Dad and there will be more eagles. This really infuriates me that the airport thinks they can interfere with wildlife.
Are there really not any options to reduce flight frequencies? Who uses this airport and what is the nearest alternative?
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great article, Jaime. thank you. appreciate your straightforward perspective of the workings of this crazy idea of nest removal in the gardens.
The Norfolk city councillors seemed to have no realization that we were not just watching eagles…we were watching a family drama that played out every year starring Pa and Lady Legacy, until her untimely death by a plane landing at the Norfolk airport. Then we were watching ‘As The Nest Turns’ where Pa courted a succession lady eagles until the nesting season ended this year. We have also been following his fledglings, not the least of which was our favorite crooked beak, almost adult WCV eagle ambassador ‘Buddy’ who was removed from this nest because of an avian pox infection. These eagles are not interchangeable with other wild eagles and there are already plenty of other nests on camera as we all know only too well.
The way this decision was ‘rushed’ through city council smacks of something else being behind it…like the expansion of the Norfolk airport perhaps? You are so right…it doesn’t make sense in the light of other avian flocks who use the NBG habitat too.
The way this decision was ‘rushed’ through city council smacks of something else being behind it…like the expansion of the Norfolk airport perhaps? You are so right…it doesn’t make sense in the light of other avian flocks who use the NBG habitat too.
There is definately a hidden agenda here somewhere.. Someone, somewhere knows the real reason and whos pockets are really gonna get filled.
LEAVE THE NEST WHERE IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with Penny. I would like to know if the airport or city has done anything about the actual, larger threat to planes — bird flocks. Solitary eagles are a much lesser threat but, because they nest at NBG and are protected, they are a clear obstacle to airport expansion. There are an array of tactics that can be used to limit birds around the airport, including special radar, dogs, lights (on planes) and even black flags (I saw someone in VA keep geese off his property with black flags). What has the airport actually done? I think the few eagle strikes are being hyped as a pretext. I have not gotten the sense that anyone suggested relocating the nest. That is, pick out an area that carries less risk of a flight direction to the lake that interferes with the airport. Then, make that tree especially attractive to the eagles (David Hancock in British Columbia did this with extra branches added somehow), so they take up that tree for a new nest. I think the goal is less shifting the eagles than clearing the NBG of them so that nothing hinders further airport expansion.
This is riduclous to take our Nations Bird and remove the nest all for airport expansion? This is unacceptable, the struggle of the American Bald Eagle has been a tough one, due to man and his DDT. Leave the nest where it is, after all because Lady Legacy had a strike and died, seems you just want to remove the nest for ‘good faith’. Shame on you!
I am so heartbroken over this and cannot believe it is happening. I read the USDA FAQ’s regarding the procedure to remove the Norfolk nest and dispersal. Here is a quote ‘Dispersal to prevent nesting would be focused during the breeding season during winter and spring’. I am not sure anyone has realized this. Does this mean that DT (if she is the one) could be WITH EGG and they will be dispersing her and Dad??? There are other ways to keep the airport safe from all birds in general, whether they live at the Garden or are traveling through. There are always going to be birds there. Dad is hardwired to build his nest and be the protector of his territory and his family. We’ve watched him on cam for hours just perching not missing a thing.Our vigilant Dad. Always on alert. He is America’s bird. He is not “just a bird”.
Does anyone know about the NBG Eagle Alliance that was mentioned in a news article posted on Sept 6, 2012:
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/norfolk/group-fights-to-keep-eagles-in-norfolk
I’ve done an Search but can’t find any information on them and was wondering how to join.
Thanks!
Jane, you said it all. Leave Dad Norfolk alone. It has been his home for 9 years and I don’t blame him for not leaving. More birds cause a danger around there than he does. All he wants is to have babies with DT #3 his mate and watch them grow. God Bless Dad Norfolk and DT#3. I keep positive that them two will be the WINNERS in this awful, ridiculous campaign against them. GO EAGLES AT NBG!!!
Keep fighting Jane, I sure will!