Duke Farms Eagle Chick Thrives, 2 Other Eggs Not Viable

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — One single chick of three eggs is officially the lone survivor at the Duke Farms eagle nest in Hillsborough.

The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ said Wednesday that the remaining egg "is no longer viable and will most likely end up being buried in the nest over time."

The Bald Eagle pair laid three eggs for 2026. One egg was found not viable on Feb. 20 after prematurely cracking. The single surviving chick hatched on Feb. 22.

The single chick is receiving plenty of food, as the nest is well-stocked. Its parents continue to brood the chick to regulate its body temperature and protect it from the elements.

The remaining egg in the nest will most likely end up being buried in the nest over time.

Adult eagles possess outer contour feathers arranged to shed moisture rather than soaking through to the skin.

When the adults preen, they are not only keeping their feathers clean and in shape. They are also applying an oily substance from a gland at the base of their tail. This substance helps to repel snow and rain.

The first egg arrived on Jan. 12 at 2:50 p.m. The second egg was laid on Jan. 15 at 12:42 p.m. And the third on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 3:31 p.m., during a snowstorm.

Duke Farms is located on 2,700 acres at 1112 Dukes Parkway W in Hillsborough.

"Duke Farms is a living lab where we develop model strategies for nature restoration, wildlife conservation, and clean energy transition," according to dukefarms.org.

This is the nest's 22nd season, with 2024 bringing a new pair of parents after the longtime male went missing in the summer of 2023. Read More: New Male Bald Eagle Joins Duke Farms Nest, Pair Gets Ready For 2024

The egg and the bald eagle parents can be seen on Duke Farms' Eagle cam, which livestreams the nest 24 hours a day, seven days a week at dukefarms.org/eaglecam.

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