Bald Eagle HE Has Died, Berry College Eagles Second Egg, Bald Eagle HK and Sterling, Black Eagle Makhaza, Africam Black Eagle Waterfall Video, Songbird Forest

Sadly, it's true that Bald Eagle HE was found dead this week onboard the Navy base at Little Creek. She died of blunt force trauma, but it likely wasn't witnessed since the actual cause wasn't listed. (It's not reported if she was struck by a vehicle or aircraft or if she flew into something.) Here's a link to the story. I started watching the Norfolk Botanical Garden nest in 2008 -- but the nesting season was cut short when Buddy was removed from the nest. So, my first year to truly watch this nest was 2009, the year of Azalea (HH), HK (now at Honey Bee Golf Course), and HE (who last year became the mate of her Dad). There has been a whole history of loss for Dad Norfolk, with this just being the latest. I'm sad at the loss of HE and for the loss of another of Dad's mates...

The Berry College Bald Eagles are right on time! Mom Berry laid her second egg of 2016 almost exactly 3 days after the first egg. She missed by less than 2 hours! If there will be a third egg, it will be Wednesday. Maybe late Wednesday. Maybe into the early morning hours of Thursday... Egg watch continues! Here's video of Mom Berry laying the second egg (10:15) -- vocalizing like she did while laying the first egg.

And here's another video from today of Dad bringing lunch and grass (9:56) to the nest.
(I will embed videos when it will let me...)

Here's a few s'caps from today. I like this one because we can see the egg and Mom is looking up:

She's not limping this year. But you can see how her leg sticks out. I think she had a broken leg and it has finally healed. It's not perfect... But she is able to walk on it and I suppose she can forage for herself.

This is from the second video I posted today. But I had to post a still as well. Dad was practically sitting on Mom's head while trying to do some nestorations. She was very tolerant.

Pam Monahan has a great post about Bald Eagle HK and his mate Sterling. She has a little of everything in this latest post, including them mating! Talons crossed for an egg this year! Here's a link to her post.

I had reported that Black Eagle Makhaza, from the 2007 Africam Black Eagle nest, was being treated. She has no improvement of function in her legs and wings. She is in pain. They have decided to humanely euthanize her. Here's a link to their statement.

Unfortunately, they used the phrase, "let her go" instead of euthanize. Which has led some people to ask for clarification. She is being euthanized. Then there's another group of people that are against euthanizing her. She would have died a horrible death without human intervention. And now, after no improvement, it would be cruel to keep her alive. She isn't living her destiny. She will not recover. She is in pain.

And speaking of the Africam Black Eagle nest... They had a hailstorm there. Check out this incredible video of their waterfall after a recent hailstorm. Mother nature can be pretty wild!

Check out this article about the "Songbird Forest" in Brazil.