The Mon Valley Works Irvin Plant bald eagle egg watch is over.
It took a few more days than predicted for Claire, the bald eagle nesting there with her partner Irvin, to lay her first egg of 2024. USS Egg #1 arrived at 7:06:21 p.m. Friday. Claire revealed the egg on the nest’s livestream PixCams about four minutes later. This YouTube video captured it all: https://youtu.be/PZGQUMAiwJs?si=2eXeCpfcxUXcps1O.
According to the chat on the livecam, about 100 people watched as Claire labored through her contractions. Mom rested and protected the egg as the rain poured down on them and the faithful continued to watch.
Andrew Fulton, a U.S. Steel Corp. media relations representative, officially announced the egg’s arrival. The statement noted that once hatched, the eaglet will be called USS 7 as it is the seventh successful hatch at the nest. The eaglet is expected to hatch in 35 days.
According to the eaglestreamer blog, that hatch date would be April 5. The U.S. Steel Hatchwatch clock on the blog is tracking the incubation period, which ranges from 34-41 days. The internal pip, which happens when the baby takes its first breath, is estimated to occur on that 35th day of the incubation period.
Of course, all will be watching to see if Claire produces a second egg. Don German, the Mon Valley Works Irvin Plant manager, said in a Pittsburgh Union Progress story Sunday that may happen between 72 and 96 hours later.
Helen is a copy editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but she's currently on strike. Contact her at hfallon@unionprogress.com.