This is an exciting update on the viral bald eagle nest at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia – roughly 76 miles from the District!
We’re excited to share, that since the first egg hatched on Thursday, March 20th, the following two eggs from the clutch have followed suit and now all three eggs are hatched.
When did the baby bald eaglets near D.C. hatch?
Now that all three eaglets are born, here’s a quick recap of the dates each one was laid and when they finally hatched!
- Egg #1 was laid on February 10th and hatched on Thursday, March 20th.
- Egg #2 was laid on February 13th and hatched on Saturday, March 22nd.
- Egg #3 was laid on February 16th and hatched on Monday, March 24th.
Where to watch the baby eaglets near D.C. in real-time
A partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Outdoor Channel, and the Friends of the National Conservation Training Center has established three unique cams that livestream the bald eagles’ nest in real time!
Cam 1
Cam 1 is a close-up view of the nesting area where Bella, the mother bald eagle, laid the three eggs back in February.
This view provides the best angle for seeing the baby eaglets in real life – perfect for seeing them make their first movements or during feedings.
Mom (Bella) and Dad (Scout) still sit over and cover the baby eaglets to protect them from the elements and other potential hazards, so the babies may not always be visible.
Cam 2
Cam 2 provides a wider view of the same nest you see in Cam 1 – the view includes the often-used Look Out Post (LOP) as well as the entirety of the nest.
The nest, visible in Cams 1 & 2, is referred to as the upper nest because its inhabitants Bella and Scout have also started to build a secondary nest around 20 feet lower on the same tree.
While the secondary nest is newer, Bella decided to trust the original nest with their eggs this year, so Cam #3 has had little ‘action’ this season.
Cam 3
Cam #3, as mentioned above, is a newer stream that provides a view of Bella and Scout’s new nest, which they’ve been building up in the past year or two.
The secondary nest has not been used often this year but could see more ‘action’ in the future as the long-term stability of the original upper nest has become questionable as a result of suspected rot in some of its weight-bearing branches.
How are the baby eaglets near D.C. doing?
Well, for now, all three baby eaglets are accounted for and seem to be fairing quite well!
With this in mind, it’s important to remember that this is a wild bald eagle’s nest that we have the privilege of viewing, which means that anything could happen.
Nature can be as brutal as it can be beautiful, so while we hope and wish for all three chicks to survive and prosper, hatched bald eaglets only have around a 50% chance of surviving their first year.