Biologists believe a bald eagle that was a star of a popular Virginia eagle-watching webcam was killed Tuesday morning, struck by an airplane that was landing at Norfolk International Airport.
A U.S. Airways jet’s landing gear struck and killed a bald eagle as the plane was trying to land, airport official Robert Bowen said. One of the plane's fairings was damaged, but none of the 21 people aboard was hurt.
The eagle, biologists believe, was part of a nesting pair that has been at the nearby Norfolk Botanical Garden since 2003, and was the mother of three chicks that are featured on the garden’s Eagle Cam.
"We are fairly certain that this is the Norfolk Botanical Garden female eagle due to her physical characteristics, size and the fact that she has not been seen at the nest since the strike," said Stephen Living, biologist with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Reese Lukei of the Center for Conservation Biology, said in a written statement Tuesday.
Thousands of bird strikes are reported to the Federal Aviation Administration annually, and even strikes involving the formerly endangered bald eagle aren't unheard of. A different eagle was struck at the Norfolk airport two weeks ago, Bowen said. And 136 bald eagles were reported struck at U.S. airports from 1990 though March 2011, though that might be an undercount because the reports are voluntary and because it's not always clear what kind of bird was struck, according to the FAA Wildlife Strike Database.
This particular eagle, though, had something of a following. The webcam, which has followed the pair's December-June nesting seasons since 2006 and is operated in part by CNN affiliate WVEC, got more than 5 million views in March, the month when this year's chicks hatched, VDGIF spokeswoman Julia Dixon told CNN.
"They told me (about the eagle's death), and I just had to go have a cry," Eagle Cam viewer Linda Esaenyi, a Virginia resident who went to the botanical garden to see the eagles Tuesday, told WVEC. "I was so hurt and disappointed, not for just me but for everybody that watches."
Biologists will help the chicks if the father can't or won't raise them by himself, Dixon said. But on Tuesday evening, the webcam showed that an adult eagle - apparently the father - was back in the nest, feeding what looked like a fish to the eaglets.
- CNN's Devon Sayers contributed to this report.
RIP Web Eagle.
Salute!
This is sad. Poor mama.
U.S. Airways kills the U.S. Icon, ironic?
Yes. At least it was not the shock from exorbitant bagage fees...
well apparently the eagle father is more responsible than the inner city. anyone have a reason for that?
I realize that you are a TROLL, but have you EVER actually been to the "Inner City"? Typical Racist BS.
Is the INNER CITY any worse than poor folks all white trailer parks?
Get a life. What did that have to do with the eagle. Are you pro life too? How many doctors have you killed in the name of Pro Life?
While you are spouting off about saving the un-born, why don't you take some of your time, energy and money and actually go see some of the BORN?
successful troll is successful!
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atienne –
Lou was making an observation on the responsibility (or lack there of) of parents, which is a problem in our society particularly in inner city communities. Ignoring the problem is a poor strategy to finding a solution, and this story discusses a situation that many might find relatable. Countering Lou's statement by referencing "poor folks all white trailer parks" does nothing to refute the point he is making. Additionally, criticizing his unstated stance on abortion (which very well may be quite the opposite since his posting provides no insight into his views) actually is quite off-topic.
Up to you of course, but you may want to think a bit before replying in such an unintelligent manner in the future.
Damn plane!
Ironic indeed, momo!
There's still a good amount of protection for our National Bird, even though they've been delisted from the Endangered Species list. There are strict nesting protection zones established around a great number of Bald Eagle nesting areas. In one case, the Durango – LaPlata Co Airport makes one of its taxiways offlimits during nesting season to limit disruption to an active nest that is just outside the taxiway clearing...
Sad ðŸ™
After hearing of the hawk that was stuck inside a public building in DC I made a new invention that rescues them. Maybe it would work for airport control...
THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT
LOL no doubt!
That's Awesome!!
If the national bird had been a turkey it wouldn't have been flying that high...
lol i love your name.
Are birds trying to tell us something? Is this a sign?
A terrible thing that it happens at all. Mortality is just one of those things, though. Glad no one was hurt this time.
I hope the baby chicks are rescued from the nest before they die.
The father is taking care of them. Why interfere?