Ralph & Alice's Eaglets Have Hatched!

Remember Butler County's favorite couple, Ralph & Alice? The Bald Eagle couple is going on six years of building their nests in Hamilton. Ralph and Alice are currently on their sixth mating season together and have previously had 12 Eaglets in total. 

_{^{Pictured : Ralph | Photo Credit : David Downie}}

This past January, we posted a blog all about their new nest for this year... and we're excited to announce, their Eaglets have hatched! 

_{^{Photo Credit : Beth Eide}}

Since the hatching, which occurred sometime in the first week of April, it looks like Ralph and Alice have two young Eaglets in their nest.

Young Eagles grow rapidly, gaining about 1/2 a pound every week until they reach 9-10 weeks old. 

_{^{Photo Credit : Karen Kay}} 

A young Bald Eagle's growth usually goes like this:

• 2 Weeks — It is possible for Eaglets to begin to hold their heads up for feeding. 
• 3 Weeks — Most Eaglets are 1 foot high and their feet and beaks are nearly adult size. 
• 3-6 Weeks — Juvenile feathers will start to develop. 
• 4-6 Weeks — The birds are able to stand and tear up their own food. 
• 6 Weeks — The Eaglets are nearly as large as their parents. 
• 8 Weeks — Their appetites are at their greatest point; their parents hunt continuously to feed them as they grow! 
• 9-10 Weeks — The Eaglets begin "branching" or jumping from branch to branch in order to prepare for flight.
• 10-14 Weeks — The birds take their first "Fledge" or their first flight away from the nest. 

_{^{Photo Credit : David Downie}} 

When the Eaglets first hatch, they are covered in "Downy Feathers" which are excellent insulators, but are useless in terms of protection and strength. Eaglets must develop their juvenile feathers before taking their first flight. 

Typically, Bald Eagles do not get their white feathers until they are 4-5 years old. Some may have residual brown for more years or may never entirely lose it.

_{^{Photo Credit : David Downie}} 

After fledging, the Eaglets may stay around the nest for 4-5 weeks while they take shorter flights and allow their juvenile feathers to grow and strengthen. In that time, the parents will still hunt and provide all of the food for their young — like Ralph is doing in the photo above! 

_{^{Photo Credit : Stephen Flynn}} 

The Eaglets continue to get bigger and bigger and are currently about 11 weeks old. These last two photos were taken by David Downie on May 18th. David has been photographing Ralph & Alice for the past five years, and started the Ralph and Alice Facebook Group along with some other photographers. 

_{^{Photo Credit : David Downie}} 

"Today is day 49 since our first hatching of this years clutch," David says, "It is hard to imagine these eagles weighed just a few ounces and were 4-5 inches at hatching." 

_{^{Photo Credit : David Downie}} 

It appears that these young Eagles can feed themselves now, which means the next step in their growth will be their first fledge. As of right now, we are a few weeks out from Ralph and Alice's young Eagles' taking their first flight from the nest. \

UPDATE — June 23

The Eaglets continue to grow, and both have taken their first fledge! "Our young eagles have already found their sense of adventure as they have already been exploring the river corridor," says David Downie. "All of this is necessary if they are to learn how to survive on their own."

_{^{Photo Credit : Roger Perry}}

In their first 5 years of life, Bald Eagles mostly keep their brown feathers. There is a transition in plumage over those first 5 years and most birds attain the classic adult pattern (like their "bald" white heads) between their 4th and 5th year. Some may have residual brown for more years or may never entirely lose it. Their yellow beaks develop the same way; just like plumage, their beaks move closer to a classic color as they are closer to maturity. Most birds have a clean yellow bill by their fourth year. 

For size reference, look at the photo below of one of the Eaglets standing near a baby deer. 

_{^{Photo Credit : Scott Winkler}} 

Typically, Male Bald Eagles adult grow to be about 36 inches long and have a wingspan of around 6.5 feet. Females grow a little larger than Males, and may reach 43 inches in length and have a wingspan of about 8 feet. 

These two Eaglets in particular started taking their first flights around June 17th, and will continue to learn in the upcoming weeks. "The young eagles will remain in the area for the next 4-6 weeks before they move on and Ralph and Alice stop attending to them," David explains, "Ralph and Alice stay in the area but will vacate their nest area they will return in the fall and start the process all over again."

Stay tuned for more updates on Ralph, Alice, and their new Eaglets!