The male eagle has been seen in the vicinity of the Garden as well as periodically making attempts to rebuild a nest. This nest building is being discouraged by Federal authorities in keeping with the desire to preserve both eagles and aircraft passengers. As you are aware several eagles have been killed by eagle/aircraft collisions at Norfolk International Airport. Based on those instances and the potential for catastrophic aircraft loss it was determined by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the city of Norfolk that the eagle nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden had to be removed in order to reduce the potential for both eagle and human mortality resulting from further eagle/aircraft collisions.
The permitting for all nest removals was undertaken by the City of Norfolk, the property owner, and approved by State and Federal authorities. Nest removals and accompanying nesting discouragement is conducted, through the City permit, by the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services Division.
The goal of all these actions is to encourage eagles to nest farther away from the airport and therefore reduce the likelihood of further eagle/aircraft strikes. These actions have been conducted early in the nesting season in order for the eagles to find an alternative nesting site. It has been an unpopular decision, and is viewed by some as anti-eagle. This is not the case. No eagles are being physically harmed. Quite the opposite, the goal is to preserve eagles by reducing the chances of additional collisions and the resulting eagle deaths.