Duke Farms Eagle Cam

February 7, 2025 - The Eagle Cam livestream was restored and it was observed that 3 eggs had been laid

February 18, 2025 - As it gets closer to hatch those eggs get thinner and begin to show wear and discolorations. Wet nest conditions allow grass and other nesting materials to stick to the egg. I saw that yesterday. As the day went on, and egg position changed, the spot changed. I could see it was only grass.

I noticed lots of egg rolling throughout the night last night. Was that due to wind, cold, or getting close to hatch. I'm watching for adults looking down and softly "talking" to the chick in the egg, that pip and the star like cracking around it on the egg, and of course prey being delivered to the nest.

February 24, 2025 - As the hatch gets closer, what signs do the adults give viewers of the live cam? Watch for some of these signs observed through the years.

Adults know when hatching has begun. It is a long process. Observers will see an increase in the frequency of egg rolling. They may sit higher in the nest, depending on weather conditions. As the chick inside the shell begins scratching, the adult may hear it. Watch for the adult looking down. It may also chirp softly back to the eggs, and the chicks chirp back.

What is happening inside the egg? The chick has grown a hard spot on the end of its tiny beak. This is called the “egg-tooth” which it will use to break the inside membranes of the egg. There is a bubble of oxygen inside that the chick will breathe. Scratching continues until the chick makes a tiny hole in the shell called the “pip”. Look for a pip on the side of the shell near the larger end of the egg. The chick will be able to breathe through the pip. 

Hatching is hard work, and can take some time. The chick will rest between active hatching. The pip gets bigger, and as the chick stretches and works the egg will crack. Watch for the egg tooth working inside the egg. Adults will not help to break the shell as this could endanger the chick inside.

Most biologists consider a chick to be hatched when it is totally free of the egg shell. The chick is wet and exhausted. It may rest for hours following hatching. Before hatching, the yolk sac has been absorbed providing nutrients to the chick. It will not need to feed right away.

The final sign hatching is on the way is the delivery of prey to the nest. The adults are preparing for the first feeding of their young.

2.24.2025 - First pip spotted! The first clear shot was at 12:07:55pm. Later when the adults were briefly  off the nest, we got a very clear look at 02:09:47pm.

2.25.2025 - At 6:32 am the female stood rolled the egg and the chick slipped out of the shell. The image is at 6:50 with a clear view of the chick.