A Weekend of Uncertainty at Glen Hazel

This past Saturday, many of us watching the Glen Hazel (Hays) bald eagle nest felt something shift. The female appeared to go into labor, showing the subtle posture changes, nest bowl positioning, and abdominal contractions that often precede laying, but no egg arrived. Hours passed. Then more hours. The nest remained empty.

For a species that typically lays eggs 2–3 days apart, timing matters. Bald eagles generally produce one to three eggs per clutch, with about 72 hours between each. When a laying attempt appears incomplete, several possibilities exist. In rare cases, part of an egg may be expelled and not fully formed. Sometimes the egg can be reabsorbed internally. A more serious concern is egg binding, when an egg becomes stuck in the oviduct, which can threaten the health of the female if not resolved naturally.

From both a wildlife and camera project standpoint, it was a tense moment. We had just invested significant effort into installing this new Glen Hazel camera, and suddenly the season felt uncertain. But more importantly, the well-being of the eagle herself was at the center of our concern. Nature doesn’t follow production schedules, it follows biology.

Why Egg-Laying Can Be Complicated

Bald eagles, like other birds, form eggs internally over the course of roughly 24–48 hours. The yolk is released first, then layers of albumen (egg white) are added, followed by shell membranes and finally the calcium-rich outer shell. The entire process is physically demanding.

Mom clears vent (malformed egg) during labor. 02-21-2026 19:51

Stress, nutrition, age, and weather can all influence laying success. Even experienced females can encounter complications. While egg binding in wild eagles is uncommon, incomplete laying events or reabsorbed eggs do occur. Raptors are remarkably resilient, but reproduction is one of the most energy-intensive processes in their annual cycle.

That’s why Saturday left so many of us holding our breath. We knew the next potential laying window, if she remained on schedule, would fall roughly 72 hours later, bringing us into Tuesday. It would be a critical moment.

Glen Hazel Eagles (Hays) Mom has an Egg ! 2.24.26 15:00:45

Tuesday’s Relief — But Not the Finish Line

On Tuesday, relief swept through the PixCams community: she successfully laid an egg.

After the uncertainty of the weekend, seeing that first egg in the nest bowl felt like a collective exhale. It confirmed she was not egg-bound and that her reproductive cycle was continuing. If her pattern holds, we could potentially see another egg later this week.

But it’s important to remember: an egg in the nest is not a guarantee of a hatch.

Bald eagle eggs incubate for approximately 34–36 days. During that time, temperature regulation, proper turning of the egg, weather conditions, and embryo viability all play a role. Some eggs never develop. Others may fail during incubation. Even in healthy, experienced pairs, not every egg results in an eaglet.

So while Tuesday brought hope, we are not out of the woods yet. The next chapter is incubation, steady, patient, and often uneventful to the casual eye, but absolutely critical to success.

First egg at U. S. Steel Bald Eagles Nest

Encouraging News Across Other Nests

While Glen Hazel gave us a week of suspense, other nests in our community are already showing promising signs.

At the U.S. Steel (USS) Bald Eagle nest, the pair currently has two eggs. Multiple regional outlets have reported on the encouraging start to their season, and viewers have been watching steady incubation shifts between the adults.

Three eggs at the LMC Bald Eagles Nest!

In Miami, Ohio, the Little Miami Conservancy (LMC) eagles nest is also hosting three eggs, a strong beginning for that territory. And for the first time, the bald eagles at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (INWR) have two eggs in their nest as well — an exciting milestone for that location.

INWR-Cayuga eagles first egg!- 2/20/2026

Seeing multiple nests with multiple eggs is a reminder that while each territory faces its own challenges, the broader regional population continues to show resilience. Bald eagles, once nearly lost in parts of the country, remain one of the great conservation success stories of our time.

The Emotional Side of Watching Wildlife

Moments like this remind us why live wildlife cameras are so powerful. They don’t just show us the highlights, they immerse us in the uncertainty. We see the waiting. The risk. The vulnerability.

When Saturday came and went without an egg, we were reminded that wildlife stories don’t unfold on predictable timelines. When Tuesday brought that first egg, we were reminded how fragile and precious each step truly is.

This week at Glen Hazel was a lesson in patience, and perspective. Nature doesn’t promise outcomes. It offers possibilities.

For now, we continue watching. One egg in the nest bowl. Potentially another on the way. Incubation just beginning.

And a community still holding its breath, but now with hope.

How to watch our Bald Eagles Nest LIVE

Glen Hazel (Hays) Bald Eagles Nest: https://pixcams.com/hays-bald-eagle-nest/

USS Bald Eagles Nest: https://pixcams.com/u-s-steel-bald-eagle-nest-cam-quad-view/

INWR Bald Eagles Nest: https://pixcams.com/iroquois-national-wildlife-refuge-bald-eagle-camera/

LMC Bald Eagles Nest: https://pixcams.com/lmc-bald-eagle-nest/