# Watch Bald Eagle eggs hatch **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 30, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573 "2011-03-30T22:38:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/221 "2011-05-08T00:03:43Z")
Oh my goodness! I haven’t checked in for about a week and they’ve changed so much! ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/222 "2011-05-08T01:27:49Z")
I love watching them go stomp stomp stomping around the nest. They’re like “Look! We figured out what these poking out yellow things growing out of us are for!” ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/223 "2011-05-09T15:45:05Z")
\*\* wipes rain off lens \*\* Man, I can’t wait to see them start flapping. 🙂 They _sniff_ get big so fast!! ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/224 "2011-05-09T18:04:40Z")
Way Cool. My grandson’s school in Dexter Maine has a family of eagles right next to the school. The UofM was going to set up a web cam but didn’t. I’ll have to forward this to my son. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/225 "2011-05-10T23:44:30Z")
They look like they’re finding the heat a bit trying. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/226 "2011-05-12T22:34:39Z")
Does anyone know how long it will be until they start trying to fly? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/227 "2011-05-13T17:03:15Z")
I think I read somewhere that they usually fledge at 10-13 weeks. The oldest is not quite 6 weeks old now. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/228 "2011-05-20T21:25:01Z")
Haven’t seen the family in a couple weeks. They are huge. Mama (or Papa) just brought home some fresh sushi and Parent and chicks consumed it very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/229 "2011-05-24T18:06:08Z")
Anyone know when they get the white feathers on their heads? I was a little surprised to see black/brown feathers growing in. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/230 "2011-05-24T22:07:29Z")
According to [this website](http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle8.html), it takes up to five years for their heads and tails to turn completely white. Young Bald eagles are often mistaken for Golden eagles. That nest sure is getting crowded! ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/231 "2011-05-24T22:33:07Z")
[QUOTE=Bumbershoot] That nest sure is getting crowded! [/QUOTE] It certainly is. Yesterday I saw one of them practising with its wings. It did a sort of half jump, half flight over the other two in order to get from the far side of the nest to the near side. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/232 "2011-05-25T23:34:50Z")
It’s interesting to see how much of a change there has been at feeding time. They’re no longer prepared to wait for the mother to pop the bits of fish into their mouths. Now, it’s just a frenzy, with every bird for itself ripping away at the fish. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/233 "2011-06-08T16:09:34Z")
From the webcam page: > [@](#): > > Fledge could happen between June 11 and 25. Bob _[Anderson, Exec. Director of the Raptor Resource Project]_ believes it will be closer to the 25th. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/234 "2011-06-08T22:22:36Z")
They have looked very uncomfortable over the last couple of days in the heat. > [@](#): > > Fledge could happen between June 11 and 25. The biggest one certainly looks quite close. It’s fluttering around the nest quite frequently, exercising its wings. It will be a welcome relief for them once they can fly. They look rather miserable milling around the crowded nest, getting in one another’s way - rather like animals pacing restlessly around their cage at a zoo. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/235 "2011-06-08T23:32:56Z")
About half-way down [this page](http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle4.html), there’s a section on First Flights. Here’s a snippet: > [@](#): > > A parent flew by, downwind, dangling a young marmot in its feet. The eaglet almost lost his balance in his eagerness for food. Then the parent swung by again, closer, upwind, and riding the updraft by the eyrie, as though daring him to fly. Lifted light by the wind, he was airborne, flying–or more gliding–for the first time in his life. He sailed across the valley to make a scrambling, almost tumbling landing on a bare knoll. As he turned to get his bearings the parent dropped the young marmot nearby. Half running, half flying he pounced on it, mantled, and ate his fill. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/236 "2011-06-08T23:40:44Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > About half-way down [this page](http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle4.html), there’s a section on First Flights. Here’s a snippet: If you read the article, that quote was from a book written in 1970. Not sure if you were implying it, but the quote was not referring to the Decorah eagles. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/237 "2011-06-08T23:44:14Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > If you read the article, that quote was from a book written in 1970. Not sure if you were implying it, but the quote was not referring to the Decorah eagles. You’re absolutely right; my bad. The part I quoted is actually from\* An Eagle to the Sky\* (1970), by Frances Hamerstrom. Thanks for catching that! Edit: I knew the quote didn’t refer to the Decorah eagles, but I should have given proper credit. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/238 "2011-06-16T22:09:28Z")
I see that one of them has finally got sick of being cooped up in the nest and has moved out onto the branches. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/239 "2011-06-17T03:23:17Z")
I still watch them every day 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573/240 "2011-06-19T06:34:42Z")
The first one took off today (yesterday.) [http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/27808/iowas+world-famous+bald+eagle+chicks+begin+to+fledge/](http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/27808/iowas+world-famous+bald+eagle+chicks+begin+to+fledge/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-bald-eagle-eggs-hatch/576573.md?page=13)