Community Corner
DC Eagle Cam’s Adorable Baby Eaglets Need Names
The American Eagle Foundation needs your help naming two eaglets sitting high on top of a Tulip Poplar Tree at the U.S. National Arboretum.
WASHINGTON, DC — For the past two weeks, two fuzzy little eaglets have spent their days sitting high on top of a Tulip Poplar Tree at the U.S. National Arboretum, eating fresh fish from the Anacostia River and snuggling with their parents. These adorable babies have been referred to as DC4 and DC5 since they hatched, but it's finally time to give them proper names.
Millions of people watched the babies hatch live on the DC Eagle Cam in March, so the AEF (American Eagle Foundation) wants to include the public on picking two special names. The AEF is looking for two names for the eaglets that are as symbolic as their parents — Mr. President and The First Lady.
Those wishing to participate in the #NameTheNestlings social media campaign can do so between April 12-18. Social media users can go on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to post their name suggestions.
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Make sure to tag the post with the following hashtags: #NameTheNestlings and #DCEagleCam. Don't forget to double check that your profiles are set to public visibility so AEF volunteers can see your name suggestions.
For non-social media users or private social media users, see how you can participate in the naming contest here.
Find out what's happening in Washington DCfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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The top five name pairs will be chosen through a final voting process that begins on April 24. Enter your email address here so you can vote.
"We're very happy that two healthy bald eaglets recently hatched from their eggs and that millions of people are able to watch them grow and be cared for by such wonderful eagle parents," says AEF President Al Cecere. "We're looking forward to all the name ideas that will be suggested and submitted by eagle fans via the Name the Nestlings campaign.”
Check out names people have suggested so far:
The Tisdale preschoolers love the #dceaglecam , and have chosen the names Rex and Pickle for the eaglets. #NameTheNestlings pic.twitter.com/u6J3t6pa6B
— Jeanne Sullivan (@jeanne_s27) April 12, 2017
#NameTheNestlings Unity and Honor
— Leigh Ann (@leigh_ann415) April 12, 2017
#NameTheNestlings Indy and Connie (Independence and Constitution)
— Jane Slacter (@JaneSlacter) April 12, 2017
#NameTheNestlings Stars and Stripes
— Kimberly marth (@marth_kimberly) April 12, 2017
#NameTheNestlings sawyer and finn
— Melissa Schroeder (@critterinhiding) April 12, 2017
Mr. President and The First Lady settled down at the National Arboretum in 2014 and are the first couple to nest in this location since 1947, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They've had three babies so far at this location.
Over the next 12 weeks, the gray fuzzy eaglets will gradually grow into full-size juvenile eagles with all-brown plumage. They'll begin to develop their eagle skills by feeding themselves and learning to use their wings through "wingersizing," the AEF said.
The two babies will eventually start to explore the edges of their nest and the surrounding branches, and between 12-14 weeks of age they'll take their first flights and make their ways into the world.
What are your suggestions for the adorable eaglets? Let us know in the comment section below.
Photo: AEF
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