MNN - Mother Nature Network

Bald eagles are no longer on the endangered species list, but the bird's population is still fragile in some native areas and struggling in others. On Santa Cruz Island in California, for example, environmentalists are hard at work restoring bald eagle populations that have suffered from the lingering effects of DDT in their habitat. Efforts to reintroduce bald eagle chicks to the island began in 2002.

 

Which explains why local environmental groups rejoiced when a bald eagle laid an egg on the island late last month — and they quickly put up a YouTube video chronicling the birdies’ feat! Watch it below.

 

 

The mother bird — dubbed K26 — laid her first egg on Feb. 25 after returning to Pelican Harbor — then laid a second egg a few days later. Now, both K26 and her mate, K10, are taking turns incubating the eggs for 35 days, when hopefully, new bald eagles will hatch. The two Ks aren’t the only bald eagles expecting young ones on Santa Cruz Island. the Institute for Wildlife Studies has spotted seven eagle pairs there in the last few months, so about 10 new chicks are expected this year.

 

Eagle lovers can get weekly updates on K10 and K26 — or watch them directly via the eagle cam. Avid followers can get weekly updates and access the eagle cam on The Nature Conservancy’s Santa Cruz page.