Popular Hilton Head eagle couple welcomes first eaglet of winter. Here’s how to watch hatchings
Beloved Hilton Head eagle duo, Gracie and George, have just welcomed their first eaglet of the season to the nest, officially breaking through the shell at 4:21 a.m. on Dec. 29.
This hatching made the first “pip” or crack in the shell on Saturday evening, and by Monday morning, the new arrival had completely broken free.
Gracie laid her first egg of the season on Nov. 21 and her second on Nov. 24. Since bald eagle eggs typically incubate for about 35 days, it was likely this season would yield an eaglet right around Christmastime.
Now, viewers on Hilton Head Island Land Trust’s popular live eagle cam are eager to see when the second egg will hatch. In the meantime, Gracie and George will continue to share incubation duties until it arrives.
Once the second hatchling arrives, both will need plenty of food, enough that they grow half a pound every week until they’re about 2 months old.
The eaglets will need to compete for food that their parents bring to the nest, and will likely engage in an activity called “bonking,” where they fight their siblings for food.
About Gracie and George
This marks the 14th nesting season for the couple and their second year on camera.
Last season, Gracie laid two eggs in January, a considerably late season. It was the first time the Land Trust successfully watched eaglets fledge — leave the nest — on the live webcam.
Historically, the pair usually lays their eggs in early December, within the first 10 or so days, according to Robin Storey, president of the Land Trust.
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 couple arrived in late August this year and immediately began “housekeeping” chores like pulling up old grass and rearranging sticks.
Viewers can continue to monitor Gracie, George and their growing family on the live eagle cam, with the second egg expected to hatch soon.
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 9:09 AM.
