WATCH LIVE: DC Eagle Cam Shows Second Eaglet Hatching

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. One bald eagle baby emerged from its shell Wednesday, and a sibling should arrive in the next 24 hours.

On Wednesday morning, the first bald eagle baby emerged from its shell at 7:21 a.m. ET. And on Thursday morning, the second bald eagle baby pipped and should break free from its shell within 24 hours.

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 next big step to watch for is the eaglet’s first feeding by its parents.

“There’s nothing quite as cute and endearing as a newly-hatched eaglet! Soon after DC4 arrived, Mr. President swooped into the nest with a nice big catfish,” says AEF representative Carolyn Stalcup. “He and The First Lady appeared to talk about who would take over brooding duties, but she won and Dad flew off.”

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.

According to the AEF, DC4’s delicate and small neck is gaining strength fast, its wet feathers are drying and its head is bobbling now with little wings outstretched. On its second day out of its egg, the little eaglet is learning how to eat. The First Lady has been constantly watching over her new baby since it came out of its shell.

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