Birds are amazing creatures, inspiring awe in us all when we see them soaring high in the sky. We have so much to learn from these majestic animals, including their life cycle and how they grow into adulthood. However, it’s important not to anthropomorphize these animals by referring to them as babies. While they may look delicate and vulnerable, these young birds are resilient. In fact, eagles are able to grow into their full adult form even when they are very young!
Eagles typically lay two eggs in a nest and they take around 35-45 days to incubate. During this time, the eagle parents will be caring for their offspring and providing them with all they need to grow into their adult forms. After a few weeks, the young eagles will be ready to leave the nest and begin learning how to fly! This stage is known as the ‘fledgeling’ process.
The fledgeling process can be a very dangerous one, as the young eagles must grow strong enough to defend themselves from predators and other threats. It takes a lot of time and effort for the young eagles to reach this point, but it is ultimately essential for their survival.
Once the eaglets are ready to leave the nest, they will still rely on their parents for food. However, the parents will gradually start spending more time away from their young, and they will often perch in nearby trees to keep an eye out for potential dangers. By five to six weeks, the eaglets will be able to tear strips of meat from prey carcasses themselves. This is a very important stage for the eaglets as it will help them reach their maximum body size.