Third bald eaglet hatches at Norfolk Botanical Garden

NORFOLK

The third and final egg in the bald eagle’s nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden hatched about 7:12 a.m. Wednesday.

The first two eggs hatched Saturday and Sunday.

Biologists were getting worried about the vitality of the last eaglet. It poked its first hole in the egg on Sunday. Typically eaglets then break free from the shell within 24 hours.

“Everything is looking good,” garden spokeswoman Amy Dagnall said.

The eaglet hatched 36 days after the egg was laid, which is within a normal range. Bald eagle eggs hatch about 35 days after being laid, although in the past this pair has generally incubated eggs for 37 days.

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries wildlife biologist Stephen Living wrote in a blog this morning: “...you can see the third chick raise its head as the adult female feeds the siblings. The youngest eaglet is still a bit damp and tired but the fact that it is interested in the food being offered is a good sign. Once it is able to raise its head the adults will begin to feed it as well.”