Editor’s note: Watch live-stream activities in the aerie above the Mississippi River at https://livestream.com/accounts/1538473/eaglecam. View a trio of Bald Eagles sharing a nest and care of two eaglets above the Mississippi River, near Fulton, IL, at http://www.thecity1.com/index.php/page-two/pets-and-livestock/17930-view-the-trio-bald-eagle-nest-activity.
A new season of birth began for an internationally-known pair of American bald eagles, Liberty (female) and Justice. They became a pair in 2009 and laid one egg in 2010. It did not survive. Their nest is on the Alcoa Company’s Davenport[, IA,] Works.
According to Alcoa spokesman John Riches, on Friday, March 6, 2020, at about 1:30 p.m., Liberty laid her first egg. It hatched on Tuesday, April 14. The second egg was expected to hatch Thursday, April 16. It was visible on Friday, April 17.
It is always a bonus when both adults are at the nest. Riches stated Liberty, the female, is considerably larger than Justice. She also seems to spend most of “the night shift” in the aerie.
In eleven years’ time Liberty and Justice hatched 14 eaglets, usually in batches of two. Twice they laid three eggs.
The first two eaglets fledged in summer 2010 before [Arconic] installed the camera, and they were not named. The 14 that fledged since then were named Freedom; Spirit, Faith, and Hope; Honor and Glory; Rudy; Star and Sky; Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury; Storm and Windy.
- The eaglet of 2011 was named Freedom.
- The three born in 2012 were Faith, Hope, and Spirit.
- Honor and Glory came in 2013.
- In 2014, the lone eaglet was named Rudy, to honor late Davenport Police Sergeant Kevin “Rudy” Marxen, who died in February.
- 2015 produced no hatch.
- 2016 brought Star and Sky.
- Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury were launched in 2017.
- In 2018, two eggs were laid, but they produced no live offspring.
- Stormy weather in 2019 inspired names of Storm and Windy.
Start thinking of a pair of names to submit for these 2020 offspring.