NORFOLK – Shortly before noon Wednesday, a second egg was laid in the eagle nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden.
The first egg of the season was laid Sunday. This fits the pattern of laying eggs at three-day intervals, according to research biologist Reese Lukei. So, it is anticipated that she will lay another one Saturday.
This couple has been together seven years at the garden and they have established a pattern.
"This pair is a very healthy pair and indeed seems to be doing what we sould expect them to be doing this time of year," says Lukei.
Azalea, one of the eagles born last year at the garden, had a transmitter put on her back and has been tracked by Lukei.
He said she spent all of January in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina.
Two days ago she moved further south to the Manamaskeet National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina.
The Norfolk eagles will incubate the eggs, protecting them from the elements while they develop.
A consistent temperature of 105°F must be maintained for the eggs to remain viable.
Bald eagle eggs typically hatch 35 days after being laid, although in the past this pair's eggs have generally incubated for 37 days.
The first eaglet is expected to hatch early in March.
This pair has nested at the Norfolk Botanical Garden for seven years and has successfully raised 12 eaglets. Bald eagles most commonly have two eggs in a season. The Norfolk pair has successfully raised three eaglets three different times.
A worldwide audience of online bird watches can view activity around the clock at the nest via a camera mounted in an adjacent tree.
Eagle Cam is a joint project of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), Norfolk Botanical Garden and WVEC.com.
Norfolk Botanical Garden also contributed to this story. Raw video courtesy Ann Shirley.
