Happy Hatch-Day, Buddy!
Buddy the Bald Eagle turns seven years old today. In 2008, thousands of online eagle fans watched as a single eaglet hatched on cam at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Several weeks after hatching, the baby eagle was removed from the nest by DGIF biologists when cam-watchers noted a large growth on the eaglet’s beak.
That famous eaglet – followed and loved by thousands of people world-wide — was admitted to the Wildlife Center as patient #08-887 and was treated for avian pox. While the young eagle did recover from the viral infection, the lesion permanently deformed his beak – and the following year, the eagle became “Buddy”, the Center’s education Bald Eagle.
During the past seven years, Wildlife Center staff and Buddy fans have enjoyed seeing Buddy mature into a full adult Bald Eagle. Buddy fans have followed his training progress on the website, and have enjoyed tuning in to the Center’s Critter Cams to watch Buddy in action.
So what’s Buddy up to today, on his big day? We have an on-site tour today, so Buddy and his fellow education ambassadors will be seen and discussed. Buddy’s human co-workers will get to enjoy some birthday cake, while Buddy himself receives a special birthday fish!
Hatch-day celebrations:
