So, just who is purple banded bald eagle KS? She hatched in a nest in the Thoroughgood neighborhood in Virginia Beach in March 2011 and fledged the first couple days of June 2011. On June 4 she was sitting on the ground about two blocks from her nest and it was assumed by a neighbor that she was injured and she called for rescuers. The juvenile flew into a patch of woods but was captured by these “rescuers”. Fortunately for the young eagle Lisa Barlow, a licensed wildlife rehabilator, arrived and took the eagle away from the rescuers. The eagle was taken to a veterinarian with wildlife experience who found a couple minor injuries, but none that would prohibit release of the eagle. On June 5 the eagle was banded with purple band KS and and released at a large open athletic field near its nest. The juvenile however, had undetected injuries that would not allow the eagle to gain elevation. Lisa was to keep the eagle for a few more days to give it time to recover from its capture and attempted release. A few days later its tail feathers began to fall out and the eagle was transferred to the Wildlife Center of Virginia. By late August new tail feathers had grown in and it was determined by WCV staff that it was time for the eagle to be released. On August 30, 2011 KS and Norfolk Botanical Garden eagle with purple band NX were transported to Berkeley Plantation on the James River and successfully released.
NX is heard from on a regular basis because she is wearing a transmitter and her movements are reported on the WCV web site (www.wildlifecenter.org). However, nothing has been seen or heard from KS until yesterday January 9, 2014 when she was located perched on a transmission tower next to purple banded HK who is from the 2009 nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden, and who has built a nest on Honey Bee Golf Course about 3 blocks from the transmission tower. The three attached photos of KS were taken by Beverly Nettleton whose sharp eyes spotted her on the transmission tower. Photo of KS on fence just prior to her attempted release by Reese F Lukei Jr. All photos are copyright of the photographer.
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