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Second baby eagle hatches early Sunday at National Arboretum in Washington Second baby eagle hatches early Sunday at National Arboretum in Washington
(about 9 hours later)
The world’s eagle-watchers were awed once again early Sunday as a second bald eagle hatched on live video at the National Arboretum in Washington.The world’s eagle-watchers were awed once again early Sunday as a second bald eagle hatched on live video at the National Arboretum in Washington.
The big moment came about 3 a.m. -- more than 12 hours earlier than expected, said Daniel Rauch, a wildlife biologist at the District’s Department of Energy and Environment. The big moment came about 3 a.m. — more than 12 hours earlier than expected, said Daniel Rauch, a wildlife biologist at the District’s Department of Energy and Environment.
“This one was ready to come and join its sibling,” he said.“This one was ready to come and join its sibling,” he said.
Twitter was full of warm welcomes. Some saw it as a sign of the season.Twitter was full of warm welcomes. Some saw it as a sign of the season.
“Happy Spring DC!” one tweet said. “Happy Spring DC!” one enthusiast tweeted.
Those following the second bird’s arrival confirmed the first signs of a crack in its shell just after 9 a.m. Saturday. A day earlier, at 8:27 a.m. Friday, its slightly older sibling hatched as thousands watched on a live stream. Those following the second bird’s arrival noted the first signs of a crack in its shell just after 9 a.m. Saturday. A day earlier, its slightly older sibling hatched as thousands watched on a live stream.
By mid-morning on Sunday, Rauch reported that the second eaglet had eaten and was recuperating from its pre-dawn ordeal. It was healthy, and in the good care of its mother and father, he said. “They’ve been very good co-parents,” he said. By mid-morning Sunday, Rauch reported that the second eaglet had eaten and was recuperating from its pre-dawn ordeal. It was in the good care of its mother and father, he said. “They’ve been very good co-parents,” he said.
The pair of baby birds is not expected to leave their nest until they are 12 or 13 weeks old, Rauch said. Their gender is not yet known. The nest is at the top of a Tulip Poplar tree. The baby birds are not expected to leave their nest at the top of a tulip poplar tree until they are 12 or 13 weeks old, Rauch said. Their gender is not yet known.
“There’s a lot more to come,” he said.“There’s a lot more to come,” he said.
The family’s patriarch has been dubbed Mr. President, and Rauch said he is a good hunter. “Lack of food is not going to be an issue,” he said. The matriarch, called The First Lady, broods over the eaglets, keeping them warm. [Second baby eagle begins to hatch]
The family’s patriarch has been dubbed Mr. President, and the mother eagle “The First Lady.” Both birds will be brooding over the eaglets, keeping them warm, hunting for their food and defending the nest against potential predators.
“They’re like a modern American family,” said Julia Cecere, spokeswoman for the American Eagle Foundation, which provided the streaming service.
The sight of the small birds — fluffy and gray, still wobbly — captivated their large following.
The first eaglet emerged from its shell about 37 hours after the first crack was noticed. For the second, it took just about 18 hours. Rauch said the quicker debut suggested the newcomer is “a very vigorous bird.”
“The sounds of another chick might have spurred it on,” he said.
Some of the eagles’ fans talked about not being able to stop watching.
One posted a photo of the foursome, with adult birds bent over the little ones.
“Caught a family portrait,” her tweet said at 12:22 p.m.
Jill Biden, wife of the vice president, joined the well wishers.
“Congratulations to “Mr. President” and “The First Lady” on the arrival of two eaglets!” she tweeted.
For now the baby birds are being called DC2 and DC3. But the public will soon get a chance to participate in naming the eaglets, Cecere said.
[Watch live: ‘Mr. President’ and ‘The First Lady’ nest at National Arboretum][Watch live: ‘Mr. President’ and ‘The First Lady’ nest at National Arboretum]
People from around the world have watched the eaglets’ debut live. The eagles’ nest has drawn intense interest in part because it’s the first one spotted at the 400-acre arboretum in Northeast Washington since 1947.
The nest has drawn intense interest in part because it’s the first one spotted at the 400-acre arboretum in Northeast Washington since 1947. Being able to witness the eaglets hatch — live — is even more extraordinary. The streaming went live Feb. 15 but the audience picked up as the hatching dates have neared. There have been more than 7 million views since February.
“People care,” Rauch said. “They are emotionally committed. They are rooting for them.”“People care,” Rauch said. “They are emotionally committed. They are rooting for them.”
The streaming service is being provided by the American Eagle Foundation. The Bald Eagle Nest Cam can be seen at eagles.org or dceaglecam.org. The Bald Eagle Nest Cam can be seen at eagles.org or eagles.org/dceaglecam/.
John Woodrow Cox contributed to this report.John Woodrow Cox contributed to this report.