DC Eagle 'Spirit' Has Flown the Coop [VIDEO]

WASHINGTON, DC — D.C. Eaglet Spirit has officially fledged from her nest, and the huge moment was captured on video, which is embedded at the bottom of this post (fast forward to 14:25 in the video).

The Earth Conservation Corps Citizen Scientists recorded the video at 6:42 a.m. on Saturday, June 3. Spirit returning to the nest "in good health" almost exactly 48 hours later on Monday morning.

Spirit is the eaglet of Liberty and Justice, a pair of bald eagles that had been nesting in D.C. since 2001. You can watch the nest at EagleCam.org. The nest is located about 110 feet up in an oak tree at the Metropolitan Police Academy in Southeast D.C.

Liberty laid the egg on Feb. 4, and Spirit hatched 35 days later on March 15 after a winter storm blew through the area. The name "Spirit" was chosen in April as part of the Earth Conservation Corps' 25th Anniversary.

"After weeks of 'wingsercising' and a few branching attempts, Spirit fledged the nest on June 3," according to a statement from the Earth Conservation Corps, which runs EagleCam.org. "She then returned two days later on June 5. Spirit will most likely stay in the area, leaving the nest and returning over the next month."

Images via EagleCam.org