REDDING, ca. – Newly released footage shows two bald eagles protecting their single egg from the elements during a blizzard in California.
The Golden State has been battered by weeks of rain and snow, caused by atmospheric river storms.
A similar storm hit last week, dumping 5 to 6 inches of snow on the northern California suburb of Redding, home to the parents of the Liberty and Guardian eagles.
On Thursday, the nonprofit Friends of Redding Eagles photographed mom Liberty and dad Guardia as they took turns incubating their eggs in their snowy nest.
The video opens with the guard lying in a nest, covered in snow so deep that he disappears beneath it.
After that, Freedom flies towards the nest and lands on the edge. The guard rises, shakes off the layer of snow on its wings and takes off.
Freedom begins to sit on one of their eggs.
That night, the Guardian returns. However, he can’t see Liberty under all the snow he’s stepping on, and Liberty calls out to let him know.
“Friends of the Red Eagles” has been watching freedom for 18 years. According to Terry Lhuillier, founder and director of the Friends of Redding Eagles, during that time he has raised 26 eaglets, outgrowing his two mates.
He and his third mate, Guardian, have been together since 2019 and raise eagles together every year. This year was an important first year because of the weather.
“This is the first time in 18 nesting seasons that they’ve had to incubate eggs in the nest with snow,” Lhuillier said. “It has snowed here before, but it was always before Liberty laid her eggs.
However, he noted the challenges of incubating eggs during a blizzard, but remains hopeful.
“This is the worst incubation period I’ve watched these guys in years,” he said. “It was horrible, but they’re still incubating, and that little egg still seems to be going all the way!”
Despite the snow, Lhuillier said the eagles are doing well. He noted that they are physically adapted to withstand cold, wet weather and live in an area where fish and other food are plentiful.
Meanwhile, Liberty and Guardian await the arrival of their eagle. Lhuillier said the eaglet is expected to hatch March 24-29, and the Redding Eagles Friends Live Cam will broadcast Hatch Watch.
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