Hilton Head’s popular pair of eagles welcomes first egg of the season
One of Hilton Head’s most egg-cellent duos – Gracie and George – has welcomed a new addition to their nest.
At 8:12 p.m. on Nov. 21, beloved bald eagle Gracie laid her first egg of the season on the Hilton Head Island Land Trust’s popular eagle cam.
Since the egg arrived, Gracie and her longtime mate, George, have been sharing incubation duties. Now, eagle-watchers are eagerly waiting to see how many more eggs Gracie may lay — and when.
Bald eagle eggs typically incubate for about 35 days, which means this late-November egg could yield an eaglet right around Christmastime, Robin Storey, president of the Land Trust, confirmed.
But for now, Gracie and George’s main job is keeping the egg warm.
Eagle eggs must stay within a precise temperature range, between 97 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, for healthy development. Too cold, and the embryo stops developing; too hot, and it can be damaged or die. The parents’ body heat provides an ideal incubation environment.
Making the egg feel at home
Mated pairs of eagles return to the same nest year after year, and often need to fix it before it’s suitable for any eggs or eaglets. Gracie and George have been returning to this undisclosed nest site for years, repairing and rebuilding it each season.
The pair arrived in late August this year and immediately began “housekeeping” chores like pulling up old grass and rearranging sticks. George continues to work on the nest and has been bringing frequent food gifts to Gracie, a behavior that strengthens their bond and demonstrates his reliability as a provider.
Last season, Gracie laid two eggs in January — considered a bit late, Storey previously told the Island Packet. That late start suggested that eggs might come earlier this season, and this season’s November arrival proves that prediction true.
Historically, the pair usually lays their eggs in early December, within the first ten or so days.
This marks the 14th nesting season for the couple and their second year on camera.
Last year was the first time the Land Trust successfully watched eaglets fledge — leave the nest — on the live webcam.
Viewers can continue to monitor Gracie, George and their growing family on the live eagle cam.
This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM.
