Female eagle protects her nest under any circumstances
A female eagle named Bella will do anything to keep her babies safe. A video by the National Conservation Training Center shows how the eagle while being buried in a thick layer of snow, does everything to keep her eggs warm.
The female eagle and her mate Smitty have been returning to their nest near the Potomac River every year, since 2011. The pair, just like most eagles prepare to welcome their chicks early in the year. That means that all kinds of weather inconveniences often get in their way while caring for the eggs.
Even when a severe snowstorm comes through, Bella does not think of leaving the nest even for a few minutes. “Laying eggs early, comes with a few advantages,” said Randy Robinson, an instructional system specialist for the National Conservation Training Center. “That means that the young ones will hatch in mid-March when there is plenty of food for the little eaglets.”
Bella and Smitty are wonderful parents. While both take turns caring for the eggs, the responsibility is mostly on Bella. She sits on the eggs eighty percent of the time, while Smitty is busy hunting and fishing. Bella’s job might not be as easy as it seems. She has to make sure that the eggs are always touching the bare skin on her belly. She has to turn the eggs so they heat evenly and she also needs to fluff up the dry grass underneath the nest so the eggs have a soft place to rest. Despite all the difficulties, the female eagle is doing her best.
Thousands of people have been watching the pair care for their babies on the National Conservation Training Center’s livestream. They were all touched by the loyalty of the parents who were willing to do anything for their little ones.
