Fate Of 2nd Bald Eagle Chick Looks Grim At Duke Farms

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The fate of a Bald Eagle chick born at Duke Farms in Hillsborough is looking grim.

The second of the two chicks hatched on March 1 at the nature preserve at 1112 Dukes Parkway W, in Hillsborough. However, Duke Farms shared the sad update on Wednesday morning.

"Unfortunately, the second chick doesn’t look like it's doing well and didn’t get any food yesterday. It appears he has health problems that we cannot know about," according toDuke Farms and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ.

With plenty of fish and food in the nest (which can be seen on the live eagle cam), both chicks should be thriving. Yet only the first chick, which hatched on Feb. 24, is doing well.

"We suspect there is an underlying problem the chick was born with. It is difficult to watch and while we still hold out a small hope that this little one rallies, the reality doesn’t look good," continued Duke Farms.

While it is difficult for viewers to watch, Director of Programs and Strategic Planning at Dukes Farms Nora DiChiara said they can not step in.

"Bald eagles are a state endangered species and the jurisdiction falls under the State of NJ, not private landowners like Duke Farms. While we are supportive advocates of wildlife conservation, we leave the management decisions to the State," said DiChiara.

Additionally, DiChiara noted that intervening could hinder the rest of the bird family at the nest.

"Watching nature on a camera is a raw experience but shows the full and often hard circle of life in nature. While seeing a non-flourishing chick is hard for us as viewers, it is important to understand that overall, the species population is rising," said DiChiara. "Intervening in a nest situation has the potential to do more harm than good, because it would disturb the adults, disrupt normal behaviors, and could risk the health and safety of this eagle family. As such, the State will not intervene with what are deemed natural solutions in the nest."

Fortunately, Bald Eagles in New Jersey have seen a big comeback since 1980 when there was only one single nesting pair in 1980 to more than 200 pairs today. DiChiara attributes this success story to the habitat and conservation work by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Despite the sad news of the second chick, the Bald Eagle pair still have one healthy chick left. The chick will then most likely fledge, or become capable of flying, by the middle of May, DiChiara previously said.

The first bald eagle egg of 2022 was laid at 3:37 p.m. Jan. 17, and the second egg arrived at 3:52 p.m. Jan. 20.

The eggs and the bald eagle parents can be seen on Duke Farms' Eagle cam, which live streams the nest 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Three bald eagle eggs were laid in 2021; two successfully hatched, and one died. An attack by an intruder at the nest is believed to possibly be linked to the reason the final egg did not hatch. Read More: Attack At NJ Bald Eagle Nest After 1st Egg Arrives At Duke Farms

To catch a glimpse of the new chick and the bald eagle parents, watch the Dukes Farms camera live at dukefarms.org/eaglecam or see below:

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