Hi Jonnieb- I live 30 minutes away from the NBG, and had not visited in years, since it used to be basically a collection of azaleas, camellias, and rhodies, with very little else to recommend it. Early this summer I went on a kayak tour through the garden and was blown away by all the improvements, expansion, and variety of plant material. I wrote a blog entry about the trip at the url listed below. You're right about the traffic, both coming from DC and heading east on 64 - it's a nightmare if you can't time it exactly right! Here is a link that might be useful: Blog entry on NBG trip

I've had birds for many years and currently have a pair of cockatiels. It's always amazed me as to how they communicate with each other and share the parenting duties while breeding a clutch of eggs. Most birds are social and very flock dependent. Without any romanticism involved, they definitely mourn the loss of their mate. Some die from the loneliness afterward. While wild birds may be less attached to their mate and have stronger instincts for survival, their bodies still experience normal hormonal changes when breeding that make them more attached to their mate & their young. That poor male is surely very confused over his missing family. I've lived in several areas that had many different animals that caused havoc with pets and people, alligators and snakes in the south, coyotes in California, and raccoons and deer here in Michigan. When ever someone complains about them causing trouble I have only one thought and that's that they were here first and it's part of living in the area that we choose to live in. I wonder what they think when they almost get hit by our cars, or can't find food because a builder has bulldozed their forest down.

This is the message I'm getting for those concerned We are conducting final tests on the Eagle Cam. It will be online very soon, please check back later. You can still keep an eagle eye on our birds by clicking the daily slideshow links to the right >>>

Thanks! I haved really liked watching the eagles and babies for several years now. Hope they get 3 again this year.