The biggest of the three eaglets in the nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG) was fitted with a GPS transmitter on Wednesday, May 20, 2009. The backpack-style transmitter is part of the bald eagle research being done by the Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary (CCB).
Dr. Bryan Watts, CCB Director, scaled the 80 foot tall Loblolly Pine tree and climbed into the nest to safely place the almost full-grown eaglet into a bag to be lowered to the ground. Libby Mojica, Research Biologist with the CCB carefully hooded the bird and fit the transmitter to the eaglet’s back, making sure it was secure enough to stay on, yet loose enough for growth.
The transmitter is equipped with a solar powered battery that will collect data for the 3-year tracking project that answers the age old question, “Where do these eagles go after they leave their nest?”
While the CCB has tracked many eagles from the northern regions of the Chesapeake Bay, this is the first eagle from the Hampton Roads to be a part of the research. The transmitter will follow the movements after the eagle fledges from the nest. It will also provide educational information about bird migration and eagle ecology, as well as the foraging and roosting behaviors of the eagles in the bay area.
 CCB biologist Libby Mojica fits the transmitter on the eagle |
 Libby Mojica adjusts the transmitter |
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 Libby Mojica adjusts the transmitter harness around the wing of the eaglet |
 The transmitter is secured to the harness |
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 The eaglet falls asleep during the process |
 CCB director Dr. Bryan Watts shows the eaglet's wings still with natal down to Garden visitors |
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 Dr. Watts holds the eaglet with the transmitter on her back |
 A view of the transmitter on the eaglet's back |
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