Crime & Safety

Baby Bald Eagle Hatches At Dulles Greenway Nest In Leesburg

A pair of bald eagles hatched their first eaglet at their nest in the Dulles Greenway on Sunday. Another egg could hatch this week.

A pair of bald eagles have nested in the Dulles Wetlands since 2005. TRIP II, the owners and operators of the Dulles Greenway, operates a livestream of the eagles' nest. The pair laid two eggs last month, with one eaglet hatching on Sunday.
A pair of bald eagles have nested in the Dulles Wetlands since 2005. TRIP II, the owners and operators of the Dulles Greenway, operates a livestream of the eagles' nest. The pair laid two eggs last month, with one eaglet hatching on Sunday. (Dulles Greenway Eagle Cam)

LEESUBRG, VA — A pair of bald eagles that nest in the Dulles Wetlands welcomed their first eaglet of the season on Sunday. Another eaglet could hatch this week.

TRIP II, the owner operator of the Dulles Greenway, hosts a livestream of the eagles' nest. The two eagles, named Rosa and Martin by a community contest, have nested in the Dulles Greenway Wetlands since 2005.

Last month, the Dulles Greenway partnered with Loudoun County Public Schools to create a naming contest for the two bald eagles. A student at Sterling Middle School submitted the winning names in honor of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Terry Hoffman is the public and customer relations manager for the Dulles Greenway. "We are elated to share the wonderful news that Rosa and Martin have welcomed their first eaglet into the nest,” Hoffman said. "We look forward to sharing these captivating moments with our eagle fans, as we await the arrival of eaglet number two in a few days. We encourage viewers to join the live-stream camera and speak with our eagle camera volunteers about Rosa and Martin’s offspring."

Eagles typically lay between one and three eggs each year, according to the National Eagle Center. After a month-long incubation, it can take up to two days for the eaglet to fully hatch.

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The baby eagles will remain in the nest for 10 to 12 weeks until they are able to take flight on their own.

The Dulles Greenway's eagle camera is livestreaming now. The site also has a moderated chat function where viewers can ask questions about the eagles.

Have a story idea? Email me at liam.griffin@patch.com with tips, questions, comments, or concerns.

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