MN DNR Eagle Cam Season Wraps Up With All Three Eaglets Thriving

After Months of watching the Eagle Cam, our three female Eaglets have finally fledged.

If you missed what's happened over the past few weeks, here's a little recap.

ADDICTED TO WATCHING DAILY

Like a lot of EagleCam fans, I've gotten into the habit of checking on Minnesota's famous eagle family throughout the spring and early summer. Some days, there was plenty of action. Other days it was just a peaceful look at nature doing what nature does.

Now, the 2026 EagleCam season has officially come to an end.

BYE BYE BIRDIE

All three eaglets have fledged from the nest and begun the next chapter of their lives, but the final weeks of the season weren't without a little excitement.

Get our free mobile app

EAGLE DISAPPEARED AFTER OVERNIGHT STORM

On June 11th, one of the eaglets disappeared from the nest following an overnight storm. Where is she?! What's going on?! Did she actually mean to fledge during a storm? The answer was definitely...no.

DNR staff visited the nest site and found the young eagle on the ground. While that may sound alarming, being on the ground can be a normal part of the fledgling process, even if it isn't the ideal way for a young eagle to leave the nest.

The good news came in that the Eaglet appeared healthy, and after consulting with wildlife experts at The Raptor Center, the bird was left in place to let nature take its course.

RELATED STORIES: Eagle Cam Shows Baby Eaglets Growing & Learning To Fly

A few days later, a passerby spotted the Eaglet in some vegetation near the nest and contacted The Raptor Center out of concern.

The young eagle was brought in for evaluation and was found to be healthy. Shew! After receiving a clean bill of health, she was released back into the wild.

POST RELEASE MONITORING PROJECT

The Eaglet also became part of a new project through The Raptor Center. Using GPS technology, researchers will be able to track this Eaglet to better understand how rehabilitated raptors adapt and survive after returning to the wild.

Fledging Eaglet number one...good to go. Now, what about the other two?

OTHER FLEDGLING EAGLETS NOT FAR BEHIND

The second Eaglet successfully fledged on June 18th, and the final Eaglet took flight on June 22nd.

While the young birds may occasionally return to the nest area for a short time, they will gradually become more independent and eventually move on. They are probably like, "Mom? Dad? Uhhh....Are you EVER gonna feed me again?" They'll soon learn the answer is a hard...no.

THE THREE SISTERS

It's amazing to think about how much these birds have changed in just a few months. We watched them grow from tiny, fuzzy chicks into powerful young eagles ready to soar on their own.

A SUCCESSFUL DRAMA-FREE SEASON

Other than the storm that sort of knocked our first Eaglet into leaving the nest prematurely, I'd have to say this was a fairly drama-free season. No Eaglets hogged all the food. All three Eaglets were fed and survived.

The Eagle Cam is such an incredible tool to learn about the wild. It gives us a front row seat to moments most people would never have the chance to witness in person.

Now the nest sits empty. It's sort of sad...in a way.

Still, there is plenty to celebrate.

• Three eaglets hatched.
• Three eaglets survived.
• Three eaglets took flight.

That's a successful season in my book.

Eagle Cam fans know it won't be long before we're looking forward to the next year and wondering what next spring will bring us. Thanks for coming along for the ride.