SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — Following a tragic nesting season last year in which the new eagle dad at the NCTC nest in Shepherdstown ate his eaglets, this year looks promising, with three eggs and some big news from Thursday according to Fish and Wildlife Historian Dr. Mark Madison:
“We have some breaking news,” he punned about the eaglet breaking through his egg. “The first eaglet started putting his first little hole in the egg about 7 a.m.,” Dr. Madison said.
The eaglet was born by 6 p.m. Thursday. As of Sunday, two of the eggs had hatched. Monday morning around 10 a.m., the third eaglet made an appearance, poking through its shell while its nestmates were being fed.
There is a huge following and a lot of commentary in the online community of folks watching the Eagle Cam at the Outdoor Channel. Although fish and wildlife scientists do not anthropomorphise the eagles, the online community has dubbed the eagle couple “Bella and Scout.”
The father, Scout, is settling better into his role this season. “All indications are that the male eagle has matured, is behaving much more paternal,” Dr. Madison said, adding the eagle dad was already bringing food up to the nest, including a carp.
Dr. Madison said the staff at the NCTC had been hoping for triplets, “Which is really exciting for us.”
“We have a wonderful (online) community,” says Dr. Madison. “Sometimes they call themselves the Eagle Momsters.”
“They have eager discussion about everything that’s going on and they watch these cameras nonstop.. That’s how we found out the (first) eaglet was born by around 6 p.m.”
You can hear Friday’s appearance by Dr. Madison on Panhandle Live as well as his prior appearances on our Panhandle News Network Spotify.
Some screenshots from the Outdoor Channel’s Camera 1 tell today’s story, as Eaglet #3 from this year’s eggs hatches as his nestmates are being fed. Later, Mama “Bella” Eagle sits on all three as the youngest eaglet continues to adjust to the outside world.
