Alligator River/Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge P. O. Box 1969 Manteo, North Carolina 27954 Contact: Bonnie Strawser - 252-473-1131 Back to News Home Page

News Release

March 10, 2010

Azalea Returns to Eastern NC for More "Southern Hospitality"!

Remember Azalea? She's the bald eagle that left her home in the Norfolk area several months back and staked a claim on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Well, she's back in eastern North Carolina! According to Reese Lukei, who tracks her movement, "Azalea left Virginia Beach at 9 am March 4 and flew south over Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge about 1 pm. She kept going and arrived at Mattamuskeet by 3 pm. At 5 pm March 8, she was just off Rt 94 opposite the Refuge Wildlife Drive and has been in that general area south of Mattamuskeet Lake since arrival. Good ole NC hospitality." Azalea's story can be followed at http://eagletrak.blogs.wm.edu. Lukei also reports that Norfolk Botanical Garden eagle eggs are due to begin hatching March 10. Follow their progress at http://eaglenest.blogs.wm.edu Above, Azalea models her satellite transmitter for a group of students prior to her release. Photo Credit: Reese F Lukei Jr.

Map of Mattamuskeet with Azalea locations. Map Credit: The Center for Conservation Biology.