Wild Bald Eagle Chicks Hatch Live on Camera

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: January 3, 2022 10:15 am

A bald eagle chick is seen after hatching in the care of its mother Rita

Photo Credit: Zoo Miami

Zoo Miami in collaboration with Wildlife Rescue of Dade County, have announced that two bald eagle chicks hatched live on camera. The pair are wild eagles which are nesting in a platform provided by Wildlife Rescue of Dade County.

The parents are known as “Rita” and “Ron.” They have successfully completed the 37 day incubation of two of the eggs. A further egg is still remaining in the nest.

Rita and Ron formed their nest in an artificial platform crafted by Lloyd Brown from Wildlife Rescue of Dade County and Ron Magill from the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment at the Zoo Miami Foundation. The platform makes the nest more stable after others at the site were destroyed in storms.

When the team installed the platform they also set-up state-of-the-art high definition cameras which have allowed 24 hour viewing of the nest platform.

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Rita laid her first egg on November 24th followed by the second on November 27th. A final egg surprised watchers on December 1st with this species typically only producing one chick.

The successful hatching of the first egg is an exciting occurrence for those invested in watching the camera. They have now turned their attentions to the second egg which has pipped and should finish hatching within the next 24-36 hours.

It’s important to note that these are wild bald eagles and are subject to all the trials of nature. If three eggs successfully hatch it is unlikely that all three will survive. The oldest chick will often bully its siblings by outcompeting them for food.

While we are able to watch the process it is important that nature be allowed to take its course throughout the process and as such wildlife rescuers will not intervene in any natural process.

Learn more about Bald Eagles here – Bald Eagle Fact File | The Animal Facts

Learn more about Wildlife Rescue of Dade County on their website – Wildlife Rescue of Dade County