Live Eagle Cam: Eagle Lays First Egg, Minnesota DNR Says

The eagle featured on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources eagle cam has laid its first egg of 2017. The first egg came at 4:57 p.m. Saturday.

Once pushed to the brink of extinction, the Bald Eagle has made a powerful comeback since the pesticide DDT was banned in the early 1970s. Minnesota has more Bald Eagles than any other state in the lower 48, according to the DNR.

This Eagle Couple

This eagle pair has been photographed regularly throughout the year, near their nest and surrounding areas. They continue to rearrange sticks and other material in the nest, which strongly suggests these two will use this nest again this year.

Are the adult eagles male or female?

The male and female take turns keeping their eggs warm and dry in a deep pocket in the middle of the nest. The only visible physical difference between adult male and female American Bald eagles is their size. Females are about one-third larger than the males - the females have especially larger feet and beaks.

With this pair, the female appears to have a brighter, whiter head than the male.

Eagles typically incubate their eggs for about 35 days. Although the nest has at times looked chilly, even covered in a blanket of snow for a while, Bald Eagles in Minnesota have adapted to laying and caring for eggs in these conditions.

You can watch the eagles live to observe interesting behaviors such as parents switching off incubation duties, feeding, and protecting the eggs from the elements:

Image via Minnesota Department of Natural Resources