It’s official, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) EagleCam couple has welcomed their first eaglet of 2026.
While the EagleCam is unable to get up close and personal with the parents, the DNR says that, based on observations, an egg hatched on Thursday. The DNR believes the chick was briefly captured on its livestream as well.
At this point in time, it isn’t known how many eggs the couple laid this year, nor if viewers can expect any other eaglets to make an appearance. However, as time moves on, viewers may see other chicks, and the young eaglet(s) will be more visible on camera.
Credit: MnDNR.
Pictured: Eagle pair in the nest, believed to be looking down at a recently hatched chick.
In the interim, viewers might have a hard time spotting the newest addition to the nest. Eaglets are incredibly vulnerable once they are born, weighing about three ounces, the same weight as a playing card deck, and are as small as a tennis ball.
That being said, the DNR said the chicks will grow very fast. Eaglets typically pack on the pounds, gaining about 100 grams per day, and will balloon to about three pounds after three weeks.
An adult, usually the female, will almost always be at the nest keeping the chicks warm for the next few weeks. The male will provide most of the food for the first two weeks, after which the adults will take turns hunting.
As they continue to grow, the eaglets will become more visible as they build their strength, learn how to take food from their parents, and begin walking around the nest.
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