WATCH LIVE: DC Eagle Cam Shows First Eaglet Hatched, 2nd On Its Way

(Updated at 9:05 a.m. Wednesday) WASHINGTON, DC — For the past month, two bald eagles dubbed Mr. President and the First Lady have waited for their two eggs to hatch in their nest hidden high in a tulip poplar tree at the U.S. National Arboretum. And on Wednesday morning, one bald eagle baby emerged from its shell at 7:21 a.m. ET.

During incubation, an eaglet develops an "egg-tooth" on the tip of its upper beak to crack holes in its eggshell from inside. The first crack in the process is known as the "pip."

The internal pip is when a hole is poked through the membrane, and the external pip is a hole pecked through the eggshell.

The first pip appeared less than the size of a dime at around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, according to the American Eagle Foundation, which offers a livestream of the incubation and hatching process on its DC Eagle Cam.

The second egg is due to hatch any day now, officials say, since it was laid four days after the first egg. And the next big step to watch for is the eaglet’s first feeding by its parents.

“This is a very special time in the nest,” says AEF Founder and President Al Cecere. “To witness the up‑close process of an eaglet breaking through its shell is wonderfully heartwarming. We hope both eaglets hatch this week and show signs of good health.”

The average incubation period for an eagle egg is 35 days. The First Lady laid her first egg on Feb. 19. The second was laid on Feb. 23, and the AEF hopes the eaglet will also begin to hatch in a few days.

The pair of mated bald eagles 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.

As of now, these eaglets are referred to as "DC4" and "DC5," but the general public will have the opportunity to help come up with official names for the babies in several weeks.

Photo: AEF