Mary....thank you for taking the time to pass along all of the interesting comments and reports. It is much appreciated. I looked in on the cam today and the 2 young eagles were sitting on the perch. All was calm.

THis was on the WEVC moderated blog this am. There are some gorgeous still images of each fledgling. They are, of course, copyrighted, but he has posted them for viewing.

Comment From ShutterbugBob I've got pictures from yesterday's release on my website. What a day! http://shutterbugbob.smugmug.com/nature

Thanks, Mary and BET! I must admit I feel as if I'm in a somewhat awkward position. I do believe that Ed Clark and the Wildlife Center of Virginia do a wonderful job - and know they wouldn't have released NX if there was a problem with her - and certainly wouldn't have put a transmitter on her if they didn't think she had a good chance (if not the best chance) to survive and thrive. In fact when they originally announced that they were putting a transmitter on one, they said she was chosen in part because NV and NZ had to be treated for medical issues, while NX was healthy the whole time.

But when I look at ShutterbugBob's wonderful photos of NX's release - it looks to me as if there are several feathers broken or missing, not a single broken feather. I expect NX has learned to compensate - I saw one of the videos of her release, and she was flying straight. I don't think it's a problem. But I am wondering if it's really "a single broken feather" as Ed Clark said.

Ah well - I guess it doesn't matter. And I wish NX - and the other eagles - long and healthy lives.

JudyB...I had a wonderful post full of updates on NX and her feathers and it disappeared into cyberspace when I hit submit. Ed actually went and checked on her when everybody was asking about the feathers on the chat and he said one gone and one partly gone but not a big concern to the vets. I'm sure they won't release her again until they are sure she is OK. He does like to keep his "Eagle Nation" happy!!


This isn't the good report from last night that got lost but here is part of an update on WCV's site........

NX is settling back into her enclosure and has been seen, through the Wildlife Center’s Animal Cam, flying around the enclosure. Animal cam viewers can easily distinguish NX from her roommate, KS, by the difference in feathers. KS is missing many tail feathers; NX is missing two flight feathers on her left wing [one feather broke several weeks ago, the other happened prior to release on July 27]. Viewers may also able to spot NX’s GPS “backpack” — the transmitter that she was fitted with prior to release.

NX will be observed for several days before another release is considered.

Thanks, Mary! I hate it when that happens.

I seem to remember that it takes something like 3 years for feathers to grow - or perhaps more accurately, they moult on a three year cycle, so each feather is replaced every three (or perhaps 4) years.

Whatever it is, I can't imagine that NX would have a good life waiting that long for the feathers to grow back. And I do expect that she'll learn to compensate for her missing feathers. She may not be able to soar quite as effortlessly as NV or NZ for a few years - but will probably learn to include a tiny flap now and then to keep things balanced.

Here is the post by Ed Clark. It was on the WCV moderated discussion board this morning

12:50


Ed Clark, WCV:
Thanks, Shoebutton... We are delighted to have you here as well!!! Thanks for the kind words. When we were planning to get our page and cam launched, we never knew it would be in the midst of such drama!!!

Oh, FYI.... NX is missing one entire flight feather, #9, and part of another, #8, which was broken at some point yesterday, though it may well have been damaged previously as well. That means that only two--(2)--feathers are not fully functional. When we next examine her, we'll determine if there is enough left of the broken feather to "imp", or splice another feather onto the broken shaft, or if we'll just let them grow back naturally. But, all of the hysteria about the condition of her wing is just as misplaced as the concern about the impact of the transmitter. NX is fine, and will be fine...

BET...That was the part of my missing post that I was talking about!!

Thanks, BET and Mary!