Happy Hatch-Day, Buddy!
Buddy the Bald Eagle turns six years old today. It’s hard to believe that six years ago, thousands of online eagle fans watched as Buddy hatched on cam at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Several weeks after hatching, baby Buddy was removed from the nest by DGIF biologists when cam-watchers noted a large growth on the eaglet’s beak.
Buddy 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 six years, Wildlife Center staff and Buddy fans have enjoyed seeing Buddy mature into a full adult Bald Eagle. In the past year, Buddy has spent time traveling as an important education animal ambassador. Buddy spent his fifth birthday at Riverfest, and just a couple months later, traveled to Virginia Beach to appear in multiple education programs.
This year, Buddy will again make an appearance at Riverfest on May 3 at 3:30 p.m. The program is free and open to the public – come and see Buddy, and wish him a belated happy hatch-day!
Buddy's Hatch-Day Celebration:
