On May 16, 2012, Bald Eagle NX was released at the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Richmond County, Virginia.  NX was equipped with a GPS transmitter before release.  Read more about NX’s most recent [December 2011 - May 2012] case history.

NX’s December 2011 admission was not her first time at the Wildlife Center — NX was one of three eaglets hatched at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.  After her mother was struck and killed by an airplane, NX and her siblings were admitted to the Wildlife Center in April 2011.  After growing up at the Wildlife Center, NX was released on August 30, 2011 at Berkeley Plantation on the James River below Richmond.  NX was equipped with a GPS transmitter before release.   Read more about NX’s April – August 2011 case history.  Follow her August – December 2011 travels below.

Where is she now?

NX was released on May 16at the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge — about 32 miles west of where she was rescued in Northumberland County in December 2011.  NX’s transmitter battery was fully charged when placed on her again in late April 2012, though the Wildlife Center staff believe that some charge was lost while she was perching in the Center’s shaded flight pens.  While NX’s reports can come in as often as every 48 hours, the transmitter may need additional time to charge up again in the field. 

Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge

May 18:  Two days on her own, and NX already checked in! 

According to the map, NX is still at the wildlife refuge where she was released on May 16.  She is within a mile of the release site, but has been exploring the forest and estuary over the past two days.  It appears as though we are missing a little data from the afternoon of May 16 to the afternoon of May 17 — this is likely before her battery was fully charged by the sun. 

An overview of the area [lines to the east of the refuge are NX's travel paths from 2011]:

Zoomed-in view of the wildlife refuge — note release site is marked.

May 21 update:  NX checked in twice since the last update — on May 19 and again on May 21.  On May 19, NX headed west from the release location to the banks of the Rapphannock River.  Today’s check-in shows that she is still by the river, and has just spent more time exploring.  She is just north of Mulberry Island.

May 19

May 21 -- a view of the area

May 21 -- NX's path since release day

May 21 check-in

Where has she been?  NX Archives

Frequently Asked Questions about the Transmitter

How is NX spending her time?

In general, a Bald Eagle’s daily activity depends on the age of the bird and the season.  According to the Birds of North America online, some studies suggest that immature eagles only spend about two to five percent of each day [24 hour period] in flight.  More than half of their time is spent roosting, and about a third of their time is spent perching.

Your donation will help support the Center’s work with tracking NX  … and with caring for 2,500 other wild animals in need.