Officials remove eagle nest in Norfolk

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Officials have removed the eagle nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden Thursday. The removal was scheduled to last several hours, but only took minutes.

The city has been instructed by both the USDA and the FAA to remove the nest because of safety concerns regarding the proximity of the nest to the Norfolk Airport.

In 2011, two eagles were struck and killed at airport according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"With an increasing number of eagles and an increasing number of aircraft, these strikes are becoming more common," USDA's Scott Barras said. "You see more situations where eagle management might have to be undertaken in order to protect the aircraft and the eagles."

Just last week, board members from the Norfolk Botanical Garden decided to create a task force to study the effects of removing the nest.

A group called the Norfolk Botanical Garden Eagle Alliance was created in an effort to keep the nest at the Botanical Garden. The group circulated petitions and asked people to send letters in support of the eagle nest at the garden. The letters have been directed for the most part to the media and Norfolk City Council.