NORFOLK -- Online bird watchers around the world held their breath Tuesday as scientists retrieved two eggs from the bald eagles' nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden.

Andy Franklin, 13News

Scientists retrieved these two eagle eggs from the nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden on Tuesday.

Scientists named three reasons for removing the eggs, which are no longer viable. Firstly, they plan to study the embryos to learn more about eagle development. Secondly, they want to do a chemical analysis to learn more about the eagle diet and check for toxins in their system. Thirdly, they removed the eggs to create an area for the new female to potentially lay eggs, should she mate this season.

Originally, scientists and bird watchers alike believed there would be three eggs recovered, but there were only two in the nest. For the past two consecutive seasons, the resident couple have produced three eaglets that survived to fledge in the summer.

Stephen Living, a wildlife biologist with the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries, said the variation did not surprise him.

"Three is extraordinary," said Living. "Two is really what we normally expect, so even though it's down a little bit, it's still a healthy clutch."

Reese Lukei, Jr., Research Associate at the Center for Conservation Biology, obtained federal and state permits to remove the eggs from the nest after a four-year-old female intruder forced the resident eagles from the nest, exposing the eggs to the elements.

As scientists carried out the egg retrieval, a Norfolk Botanical Garden staff member kept online bird enthusiasts abreast of the situation in a play-by-play format via a WVEC.com chat. In the chat, Eagle Cam viewers first learned that scientists only recovered two eggs, and saw no signs of a fragmented third.

Eagle Cam viewers have not spotted the resident female in several days, and have noted the intruder resting on limbs with the resident male, believing the two may have formed a new bond. Lukei agreed.

"What that seems to indicate is that the original female has been run off and she is taking over that position," he said.

Living commented that eagle couples need to form a bond before they are ready for mating.

"There's a whole pair bond that has to be developed that was well established between the previous pair," he said. "Now that that female's gone, this new female and the resident male will have to form that bond."

He also said it is not too late in the season for the newly-arrived female to lay a new clutch of eggs.

"We're well within the time frame for them breeding," he said. "I know that there are eagles in our area that have not laid eggs yet that are part of established pairs."

Reese Lukei, Jr.

This picture shows a comparison of the size of the eggs to the size of a tennis ball.

As for whether or not the new couple will settle down in the established nest, Living said it is a possibility, but could not predict whether or not it would happen.

The eggs recovered Tuesday were taken to Dr. Bryan Watts, Director of the Center for Conservation Biology Wednesday morning.

So far, scientists have determined one of the eggs is 735cm by 565cm, and it weighs 4.5 ounces. The second egg is 740cm by 565cm and weighs 4.3 ounces.

Thursday, the eggs will be picked up for analysis at the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences.