1 Bald Eagle Egg Hatches, Another Dies At Duke Farms In Hillsborough

The first of three bald eagle eggs laid in 2026 at Duke Farms hatched on Sunday morning.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The first of three bald eagle eggs laid in 2026 at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, New Jersey hatched on Sunday morning. Tragically, one of the other eggs prematurely cracked and is not viable, leaving one remaining egg that Duke Farms and Conserve Wildlife are monitoring for a pip.

Why it matters

The bald eagle nest at Duke Farms is an important conservation effort, with the livestreamed eagle cam allowing the public to observe the nesting process. The loss of one of the eggs is a setback, but the successful hatching of the first chick is an encouraging sign for the continued recovery of the bald eagle population in New Jersey.

The details

The first egg was laid on January 12, the second on January 15, and the third on January 18 during a snowstorm. On Friday, one of the eggs "prematurely cracked and is not viable" after getting stuck to the adult eagle when she got off the eggs. The remaining egg is being monitored for a pip.

  • The first egg was laid on January 12, 2026 at 2:50 p.m.
  • The second egg was laid on January 15, 2026 at 12:42 p.m.
  • The third egg was laid on January 18, 2026 at 3:31 p.m. during a snowstorm.
  • The first chick hatched on Sunday, February 23, 2026 at 7:02 a.m.
  • One of the eggs prematurely cracked and is not viable on Friday, February 21, 2026 at 6:32 p.m.

The players

Duke Farms

A 2,700-acre property in Hillsborough, New Jersey that serves as a living lab for nature restoration, wildlife conservation, and clean energy transition.

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ

A non-profit organization that works to protect endangered and threatened wildlife in New Jersey.

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What’s next

Duke Farms and Conserve Wildlife are looking for a pip in the remaining egg.

The takeaway

The successful hatching of the first bald eagle chick at Duke Farms is an encouraging sign for the continued recovery of the bald eagle population in New Jersey, despite the tragic loss of one of the eggs. The public can continue to monitor the nest via the live eagle cam.