1. Nest Building: Bald eagles begin their parenting journey by constructing a massive stick nest in tall trees or on cliffs. Both parents work together to gather branches and other materials, adding to the nest annually until it can reach up to 13 feet in diameter and weigh over a ton.
2. Egg Laying: Once the nest is ready, the female eagle will lay between one and three eggs every other day. The eggs are incubated by both parents, but primarily by the female, for a period of about 35 days.
3. Hatching and Care: After incubation, the eggs hatch into helpless, downy eaglets. The parents work tirelessly to provide food, protection, and warmth to their vulnerable young. They divide the duties, with one parent usually staying at the nest while the other hunts.
4. Feeding: Bald eagles primarily feed on fish but will also hunt for small mammals, birds, and reptiles. The eaglets are fed by the adults through a process called "mantling," where the parent spreads its wings over the chicks and regurgitates food directly into their mouths.
5. Fledging: As the eaglets grow, they begin to develop their feathers. They make their first flight attempt, called "fledging," at about 8 to 10 weeks old. During this initial stage, they still depend heavily on their parents for food and protection.
6. Teaching and Independence: Once fledged, the young eagles spend the next several months learning from their parents how to hunt, forage, and navigate their environment. They gradually gain independence and start exploring their territories, eventually becoming solitary adults by the time they are three or four years old.
7. Sibling Competition: In some cases, bald eagle nests may have more than one eaglet. However, sibling competition is intense, with the eldest eaglet often dominating its younger siblings and receiving the majority of food. This hierarchy can result in one or more of the younger eaglets not surviving.