Love in the Air: George Gets a New Mate

April 26, 2007 - 9:39am

George, in the front, is seen with Martha back in 2004. (Photo courtesy of Wilson Bridge Project/S. Spears)

OXON HILL, Md. -- It's a feathery soap opera: bald eagle loves, bald eagle loses, bald eagle loves again near the Wilson Bridge.

Not long ago, two bald eagles, named George and Martha, nested happily near the bridge that carries 200,000 vehicles a day. They had almost 20 little eagles.

Tragedy struck twice. Martha was attacked by another female bird. She recovered, but then was injured in an accident and had to be euthanized.

Now the same aggressive bird that attacked Martha is George's new mate.

"George has taken up with the new girl in town," says John Undeland, spokesman for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project. "George has a new mate. It doesn't appear they're procreating, at this point. But George and Camilla or Angelina -- pick your name -- are now appearing to be a couple."

How does Undeland know the eagles haven't laid any eggs? If they had, they would be spending a lot of time at home this time of the year.

"One of the two eagles has to be on the nest pretty much full time, and the birds have not been exhibiting that behavior. They've been doing their normal thing, footloose and fancy free."

OXON HILL, Md. -- It's a feathery soap opera: bald eagle loves, bald eagle loses, bald eagle loves again near the Wilson Bridge.

Not long ago, two bald eagles, named George and Martha, nested happily near the bridge that carries 200,000 vehicles a day. They had almost 20 little eagles.

Tragedy struck twice. Martha was attacked by another female bird. She recovered, but then was injured in an accident and had to be euthanized.

Now the same aggressive bird that attacked Martha is George's new mate.

How does Undeland know the eagles haven't laid any eggs? If they had, they would be spending a lot of time at home this time of the year.

"One of the two eagles has to be on the nest pretty much full time, and the birds have not been exhibiting that behavior. They've been doing their normal thing, footloose and fancy free."

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