Friday, April 07, 2006
Md.: With His Mate Wounded, George Tends the Nest
With His Mate Wounded, George Tends the Nest
Female Eagle Rescued After Attack Near Wilson Bridge
By D'Vera Cohn
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 7, 2006; B01
A grim drama is playing out at a longtime bald eagle nest near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, with an uncertain ending for the chicks that are due to hatch there any day now.
A pair of eagles, nicknamed George and Martha by bridge construction workers, have set up housekeeping in Maryland within earshot of the bridge's traffic and construction cranes each year since 1999. Last month, the female laid at least two eggs, which the pair has taken turns incubating. If all goes well, the chicks will hatch this week.
But Martha was attacked in midair Wednesday by another eagle, probably a female seeking to take over her turf. The eagle population has boomed in the Chesapeake Bay region in recent years, and the competition for real estate has grown fierce as available habitat has dwindled.
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project is reconstructing this vital Interstate crossing between Virginia and Maryland on the south side of Washington, D.C. The current 6-lane span will be replaced by two six-lane bridges. Environmental groups opposed this project long and hard, claiming, among other things, that the project would damage the bald eagle population (see this for an example).
Female Eagle Rescued After Attack Near Wilson Bridge
By D'Vera Cohn
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 7, 2006; B01
A grim drama is playing out at a longtime bald eagle nest near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, with an uncertain ending for the chicks that are due to hatch there any day now.
A pair of eagles, nicknamed George and Martha by bridge construction workers, have set up housekeeping in Maryland within earshot of the bridge's traffic and construction cranes each year since 1999. Last month, the female laid at least two eggs, which the pair has taken turns incubating. If all goes well, the chicks will hatch this week.
But Martha was attacked in midair Wednesday by another eagle, probably a female seeking to take over her turf. The eagle population has boomed in the Chesapeake Bay region in recent years, and the competition for real estate has grown fierce as available habitat has dwindled.
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project is reconstructing this vital Interstate crossing between Virginia and Maryland on the south side of Washington, D.C. The current 6-lane span will be replaced by two six-lane bridges. Environmental groups opposed this project long and hard, claiming, among other things, that the project would damage the bald eagle population (see this for an example).
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