1st of 2 Bald Eagles Hatches at DC's National Arboretum
The eaglet's first day has consisted of snoozing and eating.
— -- After almost 36 hours of hatching, the first of two bald eagles expected to emerge from their shells this week was welcomed by the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.
The spectacle is being caught on two high definition nest cams and streamed online by the American Eagle Foundation.
The eaglet began poking its way of its shell, or pipping, around 7:30 p.m. on March 16, according to the foundation. As of this morning, the baby eagle had completely emerged from the shell.
The eaglets' parents — Mr. President and the First Lady — are the first to nest in the arboretum's tulip poplar tree in almost 70 years, according to the foundation.
The couple has been taking turns on incubation duty, sitting on the eggs since she laid them on Feb. 10 and Feb. 14. Shortly after the first eaglet hatched, Mr. President returned to the nest with a fish breakfast for the First Lady.
Interest in the 24/7 livestream has proved immensely popular and has caused the website to crash a few times. Viewers can see the tiny eagle curled up in the nest under its parents, waking every now and again to be fed.
The foundation said the eaglet born today will be called DC2 (for now). The pair’s second egg is expected to hatch later this weekend, and in a few weeks the public will be able to help choose names for the babies.
The bald eagle nest livestream can be viewed here.