NORFOLK BOTANICAL GARDENS ~ 2012

Catbird · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:52 am

Some positive news at the nest this morning: It looks like the persistence of female #4 has finally paid off. She was allowed into the nest and there was a mating (this was after an unsuccessful mating attempt on the "love" branch about one minute before).

The complete report and video of this morning's events are here:

Mick · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:04 pm

Thank you Catbird.

Beth · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:17 pm

Thanks everyone for all the nest updates and news...
"As The Nest Turns" :biggrin:

Mick · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:01 pm

Mick · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:09 pm

Recorded minutes before they mated.

Catbird · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:30 pm

Mick - Thanks for the updates and videos from today!

Carolyn · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:31 pm

Lovely!!

I really hope things work out for these two........no more intruders!!

:valheart:

Beth · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:34 pm

Boy, this nest will go down in Eagle history...

gigi · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:55 pm

Beth wrote:

Boy, this nest will go down in Eagle history...

You got that right! :girlluv:

PattiO · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:05 pm

I got my text alert about the mating early this morning! :) I guess we'll see what happens with #4 ... an egg, or no??

Mick · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:02 am

Maybe egg eh PattiO?

Video description, Standing on the branch the new young female assumes a submissive stance as Norfolk Dad accepts her presence at his nest. She is moving to establish a territory and find a mate to start her reproductive life.

Mick · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:03 am

And a close up at dusk of her feet. The chat moderators suggested that it could be food, rough feet or blood from her aerial encounter with #3.

Catbird · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2012 6:57 am

Great close-up from last evening Mick! Right now, they're both up on the branch waiting for the sunrise.

LeeLee · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:54 pm **Posts:** 471

The drama in the nest this weekend has kept me away from the barn owls hatching LOL! It is definately history being made, Reese stated this has never been documented before, a male going through 3 females and acquiring a 4th mate. I just knew when he left her Saturday night in the tree alone, and flew off for the night, that he was accepting her. Otherwise, he would not have done that...then when I thought I would sleep in late Sunday morning, NOT - the "alert" went off on my phone telling me they had mated LOL! And get a load of her feet - they were teasing online saying she needed a pedicure for her closeup LOL and some had nicknamed her "Dirty Feet" to distinguish her from Dirty Tail LOL, mean, but funny too....What a ride it was this weekend.

Looking back, without all the emotions of rooting for 1, 2, or 3...Dad as always knows best, and stepped up and did what he HAD to do...if they cant lay eggs, he had to give them the boot...he is such a good dad and wants his eaglets!!! Noticed #4 being submissive w dad, and jumping right in and helping with the nestorations and arranging of furniture LOL...and in a couple of views, while they were moving around the nestbowl, you could clearly see she is much larger than Dad, it will be easy to tell them apart.

Lets hope she is fertile!!

GREAT PICS & VIDEOS - enjoyed them all, great job to all
:girlluv:

PattiO · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:41 pm

It sure has been crazy ... and interesting to see all of this.

As per the moderated chat this morning ...
6:51 Reese: Talked to Dr Mitchell Byrd, THE bald eagle expert, and he said he had never seen 4 mates in one season. May happen in the wild but never documented before.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

WOW. . so many firsts here!!! (and to think they want to remove the nests. . grrrrr. .but I digress). . such an interesting video, Mick!! So glad you caught that. . the initial submissiveness of the female was interesting to watch.. .

Even though we are now onto "bride" #4, I do hope that #3 was not severely injured!!!

will be very interesting to see how this all plays out. It certainly speaks to the number of eagles in that area. Must be a huge shortage of males?

obxbarb · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:48 pm

This has been amazing to watch! Reese sends me e-mails to alert me, like I'm not already watching. :biggrin:

I can't drag myself away, along with the 15,000 other people!

Beautiful shot Catbird!

beans · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:34 pm

Earlier, Dad Norfolk and Female #4 spent time together. Dad left and returned a few minutes later to arrange a stick in the nest. At the end of this video, they are both working on the nest. Hopefully, Female #4 will soon become Mom Norfolk. She doesn't seem very submissive now.

SusanE · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:16 pm

The lesson I learn from Dad is to grieve and then to move on and live life and enjoy what you have right now. Thank you, beans, for your video.

jim · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:37 pm

Susan, I completely agree! Through it all, the male adult eagle from Norfolk Botanical Garden.
Photographed Tuesday afternoon.

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