Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Trio of bald eagles raise chicks as a team along Mississippi river

Trio's parenting efforts are livestreamed worldwide

Tom Horton
Wednesday 17 April 2019 09:55 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An unconventional family of bald eagles comprised of two males and one female have been filmed raising eaglets together.

The trio were spotted living together along the Mississippi River near Fulton, Illinois.

The two males are sharing their second partner after their original female mate was killed by another eagle.

Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge have named the males Valor I and Valor II and the female Starr.

A webcam set up by the stewards in 2011 is allowing animal enthusiasts around the world watch live footage of the trio raising their chicks.

Male eagle takes flight after earthquake rocks nest in Santa Cruz, California

The original trio formed in 2013 when Valor I's previous partner chose Valor II as a new mate.

However Valor I hung around for the rest of the breeding season and, after their mate was killed in 2017, the pair courted new female Starr together later the same year.

Three eggs have been laid by Starr hatched this spring.

Press Association

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in