Home for the Holidays (Dec 10-13)
December 15, 2009Azalea Update for Dec 11 and 12
December 18, 2009
After a few days exploring the North Landing River in Virginia Beach (including the river bank along the golf course at Stumpy Lake Country Club), Azalea continued her flight south to North Carolina. she followed the North Landing River downstream and then traveled to a smaller tributary, the Northwest River, in Chesapeake, VA and Currituck Co, NC. THis river drains part of the Great Dismal Swamp. See photo of river habitat here Most of the river habitat she’s visited over the past few months has been tidal fresh or oligohaline which are typically very productive for fish (i.e. her main prey). The shallow coves and clear water of the Chesapeake Bay tributaries help eagles locate fish for food.
On the map, I’ve marked the Norfolk Botanical Gardens nest with a yellow push pin and Azalea’s current location with a white circle.
Libby
6 Comments
Libby you do a wonderful job at this!! I am so glad you are there to do this when Reese is gone. Please continue to keep up with this. Azalea means so much to so many people.
Thank you!!!!
Azalea,Our American Beauty…You have come to see me for Christmas afterall..What a wonderful present…Come by the pond ,make yourself at home..stay as long as you wish..Merry Christmas everyone…Libby ..Please let us know about replaceing the Cobb Island camera..many would like to help
I really enjoy the detailed description of the area and it’s relative location to NBG…thank you, Libby
. ..plus the fact I learned a new word, oligohaline 🙂
I saw a bald eagle this morning in Chesapeake soaring around the location of Mt. Pleasant Rd and Centerville Turnpike. It was flying low enough that I could see it had the white head feathers already. Would Azalea already look like a mature bald eagle? Could it have possibly been her? I lost site of the eagle for a few minutes but then I saw it again and there were two flying together. If it is her, maybe she’s found a mate or there are two more eagles in the area. 🙂
Lisa – It takes 4 to 5 years for a bald eagle to get white head feathers (and tail feathers), so that could not have been Azalea.
We appreciate everyone’s interest in the Barn Owl nest this fall at Cobb Island on Virginia’s eastern shore. The chicks did not survive and the web camera equipment was submerged by the 7′ tidal surge from the November nor’easter. We are still assessing the camera equipment situation trying to find replacement parts. We’ve had several offers from the public to help with donations of money and camera parts. The BCAW forum that follows this webcam has kindly offered to host a fundraiser for us. http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewforum.php?f=105
If you’re interested in making a donation, please contact me off list, ekmojica@wm.edu