Norfolk Eagle Cam

Monday, March 28, 2011

Duck on the Menu

Yesterday (March 27, 2011) we saw the deliver a prey item we’ve never seen at this nest before, a duck! Specifically, a male surf scoter Melanitta perspicillata. This species is sometimes called a “skunk-head” due to the white patches on their head. This sea duck is typically found in marine waters, or on large brackish rivers. The most distinctive feature of the male of the species is the large multi-colored bill. Three videos captured by the camera and posted by the Norfolk Botanical garden show the bird being delivered in the morning and being eaten for breakfast lunch and dinner!

The video below shows the eagles finishing off their duck dinner. look carefully at 3 minutes and 22 second into the video…the bright multicolored bill of the duck will be clear.

Check out the other other videos at the Norfolk Botanical Garden’s YouTube Channel Breakfast Delivery and Duck for Lunch

While fish provides the bulk of a bald eagle’s diet, they are opportunistic and will eat take advantage of many different food sources. The Chesapeake Bay area is an important wintering ground for any number of duck species, including surf scoters. To learn more about surf scoters check out All About Birds

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Third Egg Hatched

The third egg has hatched! At 1:30pm this afternoon (March 17th) views of the egg showed a significant crack. Camera operators kept a sharp on the nest but were unable to confirm hatching until the youngest chick raised its head during a feeding at 2:57 pm. Although it wasn’t yet able to get its head up enough to feed, it will soon be begging with its two siblings.

UPDATE - this video capture from the Norfolk Botancial Garden Shows all three chicks a bit later in the afternoon. ( to see more go to the Norfolk Botanical Garden YouTube channel)

Now begins the real work for the parents. These eaglets will need lots of food to fuel their rapid growth (faster then any other North American bird), and both the adults will work to provide it as well as keep these nestling warm and dry.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

First Feeding

The first egg of the 2011 season hatched this morning. The first hole or pip was noted at 8:21 am and by 11:25 am the female moved half of an eggshell to the side of the nest. For more details check the CCB blog.

Hatching is an exhausting endeavor the tiny eaglet. At hatching the chick weighs about 2.5 oz, the equivalent of about 12 1/2 U.S. quarters. After some time to rest and dry off, the chick got its first feeding at 2:54 pm, the first of many that we’ll see this year. Keep watching over the coming days as we look for signs that other eggs are ready to hatch!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Keeping them warm

The adult bald eagles continue to incubate their eggs, providing the necessary body heat for the developing embryos. The eggs need to be maintained at a temperature close to 105 degrees F. To help share their body heat the adults develop a specialized patch of skin on their abdomen called a brood patch. This area of skin thickens and wrinkles during the breeding season and develops and increased blood supply. Both males and female bald eagles develop a brood patch but it much better developed in the female as she will handle to bulk of the incubation.

In the picture above you can see the female as she is airing out her brood patch while perched away from the nest.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Golden Eagle release

A golden eagle was recently released following treatment at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. A video of the release with more information can be found here. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is part of an collaborative research effort to learn more about the ecology of the eastern population of golden eagles, detailed information about this exciting effort is available here

Monday, February 14, 2011

Third Egg

In the late afternoon of February 9th the female eagle looked to be straining and possibly laying the third egg of this season. We were never able to get a clear look that definitely showed a third egg. In 2008 we had assumed that similar behavior had resulted in a third egg but were later surprised to find only two in the nest (check the 2008 archive).

Snow in the nest blocked much of the view on the 10th and both VDGIF and CCB along with staff at the Norfolk Botanical Garden carefully pored over photos and video footage but could not confirm a third egg. Finally - shortly before 9 am on February 11th the female stood and three eggs could clearly be seen. Based on the female’s behavior the egg laying time was officially noted as 5:55pm on Feb. 9. Three egg clutches are unusual to begin with - this pair has had at least 6 three egg clutches! This is a testament to their experience and skill and the richness of the habitat.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Snowy Morning

This morning the eagles at the Norfolk Botanical Garden woke up to a bit of snow. Bald eagles are well adapted to breed in cold climates and this relatively minor snowfall won’t create any difficulties. The eggs remain warm and dry. The eagles are so well insulated by their feathers that the snow on the female’s back doesn’t even melt - most of her body heat is retained.

This body heat is shared with the eggs through a brood patch. This is a area of bare, thickened skin on the belly of the eagles. This area develops as egg laying approaches and is full of blood vessels that allow the eagles to pass body heat along to their eggs (and later to hatchlings). Both the male and female have a brood patch but it much more highly developed on the female, as she’ll do most of the incubating.

Monday, February 7, 2011

A Second Egg

At 4:56 pm on Sunday Feb 6th the second egg was laid at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. The male was present for this egg laying and had brought a fish into the nest. For a detailed account of the egg laying check the CCB Nest Blog.

How exactly is an egg created how does it move through the female’s reproductive tract? In most birds only one side of the reproductive tract is developed (typically on the left side of the body). This is an adaptation that allows the female bird to reduce her body size (the ovary can increase from 10-50 times in weight during the breeding season). This also avoids any problems with having two large and potentially fragile eggs in the abominal cavity.

From Proctor and Lynch “Manual of Ornithology”

The female’s reproductive system is made up an ovary where (undeveloped eggs are stored) and an oviduct - which is a tubular organ through the egg develops as it passes through her body.

The egg (also called an ovum) passes from the ovary into the infundibulum (the funnel shaped upper portion of the oviduct) where it will be fertilized.

From here the egg passes into the magnum region where it receives its albumen or egg white. The albumen is important as it holds most of the eggs water. it also acts as a shock absorber and insulator for the developing embryo.

Next the egg passes into the isthmus region. Here it receives the membranes that will line the inside of the shell. These membranes control the passage of gases (such as oxygen and carbon dioxide) through the egg and provide a place for the embryo to store waste products.

The final stage in the development of the egg happens in the uterus region. Here the hard calcium rich shell is laid down. From here the egg is held for a short time until it’s ready to be laid.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

First Egg!

The bald eagles at the Norfolk Botanical Garden have an egg. The first egg of the 2011 season was laid at 2:49 pm on February 3rd, 2011. The female could be seen drawing pine straw up around herself in preparation, and then settled down covering the egg. Bald eagles most commonly have clutches of two eggs although this pair has frequently had three egg clutches, only time will tell how many eggs will see this year.

Full-time incubation is often delayed until all eggs have been laid. This ensures that the eggs hatch more closely together and reduces competition between the chicks. As we wait to see if more eggs are laid we may well see this egg left uncovered at times. This is not a cause for concern as the adults will be sure the egg remains at a viable temperature. Once incubation does start we’ll begin to count down towards hatching! Bald eagles incubate their eggs for between 35-38 days. This pair has been fairly consistent with 38 days of incubation for their broods. Continue to check in for more information about the progress of these birds and interesting facts about bald eagle biology and conservation. Be sure to check out the CCB blog for additional information.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Still Waiting

We continue to watch with anticipation as we wait to see when the first egg of 2011 will be laid. Both eagles spent significant time at the nest through the day today and have lined the nets with bunches of soft grass and pine needles. The pair spent a lot of time fluffing and rearranging this material - typically a sign that we are getting closer to egg laying - how close we just can’t say.

Prior to egg laying the female will begin to spend much of her time in the nest and may appear somewhat anxious - pacing across the nest and constantly arranging nest material. In the hours before the egg is laid she may assume a slightly hunched over posture. Keep watching!

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries