Conservation Efforts

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BIRMINGHAM ZOO HATCHES TWO BALD EAGLETS FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR

The Birmingham Zoo’s pair of nesting bald eagles hatched a pair of eggs April 29. The first two weeks after hatching are the most critical for the survival of eaglets. In 2004, two eaglets hatched, but only one survived.

The hatching is especially rare for a number of reasons. In the wild, bald eagles take part in an aerial copulation ritual in which both birds freefall with clutched talons. The Zoo’s birds managed to overcome difficulties flying to produce fertile eggs. Only 285 bald eagles live in captivity in the 211 accredited zoos in North America. Of the records available at the time of this release, the Birmingham chicks are the only bald eaglets to hatch at these institutions this year.

The Birmingham Zoo previously released four offspring, one in 1992, two in 1994 and one in 2004. The Zoo’s eagles also hatched two eggs in 2000. Those chicks did not survive.

In the ‘90s, Birmingham Zoo’s eaglets were sent to Tennessee for “hacking,” a process in which captive-reared birds are released in the wild. In 2004, the single eaglet was “hacked out” at a tower in Lowndes County, Alabama. If the newest eaglets survive, Zoo officials are again seeking a facility in Alabama to “hack out” the eaglets so that the birds will be imprinted with the geography and return to the state to nest.
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By law, bald eagles are protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which will ultimately determine where the eaglets will be released.

“The bald eagle is a powerful symbol for our nation and for American conservation efforts,” said the Zoo’s CEO, William R. Foster, DVM. “Once an endangered species, bald eagles are making a comeback in Alabama thanks to the hard work and collaboration of dedicated conservationists and organizations.”

The Birmingham Zoo’s 25-year-old male bald eagle came from Seattle as a non-releasable rehabilitation bird and has difficulties flying. The zoo’s female is also a non-releasable rehab bird from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Florida. She’s estimated to be 24 years old.

The Birmingham Zoo is an accredited non-profit zoological park with a diverse collection of 750 animals from around the world, including many endangered species. The Zoo’s mission is to inspire passion for the natural world.