CCB EagleTrak

On the previous satellite map early on Nov 15, Azalea was on a small creek just off the York River west of Pinetta, VA. She spent the rest of Nov 15 there and up until Nov 16 11:00am when she flew north taking a slight eastward detour, but right back to the Gloucester County Landfill by 3:00pm. She spent the night back in the swampy area east of Adner. She returned to the landfill on Nov 17 by 8:00am and stayed until 3:00pm when she again returned to the swamp for the night. By 8:00am Nov 18 she was once again back at the Gloucester County Landfill and still there at 9:00am the time of this map.

Azalea has once again shown her independent mindset and changed her mind about visiting landfills. She has not been back to the Gloucester County Landfill since the afternoon of Nov 11. On Nov 12 she spent the day in the swampy area east of Adner, VA. On the morning of Nov 13 she moved south to another small creek off the York River just west of Pinetta, VA and just east of Purton Lane. She flew about this small creek on Nov 13 and 14 and was still there at midnight. She had visited this area before on Nov 4.

Quote from Libby Mojica about this map - “Amazingly enough, the transmitter collected data continuously through the storm. I would have expected a decrease in the data because of the rain and lack of sunshine to charge the battery.”

The last satellite map Nov 9 showed that Azalea was in a swampy area just east of Adner, VA and south of the Gloucester County Landfill. She is still there. From Nov 9 through Nov 12 all she has done is fly back and forth between the swamp and the landfill. She probably has lots of eagle companions there. Within 30 miles of the landfill in Gloucester, James City, King & Queen, and Middlesex counties there are about 45 active bald eagle nests.

I am late posting this map because I live in Virginia Beach and have not had electricity for 3 days. According to the news reports we have just had the 4th worst storm in our history. I know I had 11 1/2 inches of rain and winds 40mph or more for 3 days. I had to call Nuckols Tree Care (does the tree climbing for us at Norfolk Botanical Garden) to take down an oak tree that was leaning over my house aimed at my bedroom. Just got power back. Cheers!! - Reese

Azalea did spend Halloween night near Waterview, VA and the next day as well. She must have collected a bunch of sugarery candy with lots of energy and caffeine, because for the next week she has flown almost nonstop. I became exhausted trying to follow her flight paths. About 11:00am Nov 2 she left Waterview and flew directly south about 20 miles to the Gloucester County Landfill near Adner, VA and just east of US Route 17. She visited the landfill again on Nov 6, 8, and 9. On Nov 5 she made a fast and brief flight to James City County, crossing the York River at York River State Park, over Interstate 64 at Toano to Little Creek Reservoir. She only stayed here about an hour then flew back north across I-64 and the York River to the area around Allmondsville, VA in Gloucester County. On Nov 6 she flew from the Gloucester landfill back north into Middlesex County, crossed the Piankatank River and spent two days exploring west of Hartfield, VA. On Nov 8 she returned again to the landfill and settled south of the landfill in a swampy area east of Adner. After another visit to the landfill she returned to the swamp and that is where she was at 5pm Nov 9. To get a close up view of where she is, search MapQuest for Adner, VA then zoom in to the cross shaped marsh east of Adner and directly south of the landfill.

In preparation for the 2009-10 bald eagle nesting season at Norfolk Botanical Garden, yesterday the camera was cleaned, spiders removed from the inside of the camera housing, a new camera hood installed to keep out the rain. The IR light has to be replaced. It was damaged and full of water. The adult eagles are at the nest early in the morning, but usually leave by 8am and stay gone all day. When they become more active at the nest and after the IR light is replaced, the camera will be reactivated. Can’t give an exact date yet. - Reese

Azalea has spent a week in the same area near Adner, VA which is east of West Point. I will hopefully have the data to post a map on this blog later today. -

Azalea appears to have moved further south to east of West Point, VA on the Middle Peninsula. As soon as I get the satellite data I will post a new map.

On Oct 28 Azalea was exploring the area of Lancaster County, VA near Weems, and she continued to do so until about noon on Oct 29 when she crossed the Rappahannock River to Middlesex County at Water View, VA. She settled down on a branch of the Rappahannock south of Water View where she stayed until 11:00am Oct 31. She then overflew Water View and found a small pond west of town and south of Rt 604 and a place named Nesting. She spent Halloween on the pond.

You can locate the pond Azalea was at on Halloween at 5pm by searching MapQuest for Water View, VA and zooming in just west of town to the pond south of Nesting on Rt 604. Aerial view is best.

Azalea has crossed the Rappahannock River into Middlesex County near Urbanna which is where it appears she will Trick or Treat for Halloween. It may be Monday before I get the data to post a new map. - Reese

To see a very, VERY late hatching of Barn Owls go to www.wvec.com - cameras - falcon cam - Cobb Island

Barn owls have been nesting in the Peregrine hack box on Cobb Island for the past several weeks. The 5 eggs began hatching last week. Will the chicks survive because of this very hatching?? The camera views are hazy but if the light is good you can see the chicks when mom gets up.