There was plenty happening at Sydney Olympic Park on August 13, 2026, as two tiny sea eagles reached very different milestones in the nest. For newly hatched sea eagle SE37, day one outside the shell even came with a quick lesson in just how tricky those little legs can be.
Video recorded and shared by Bea’s Binoculars on YouTube.
Watch Live <— Sydney Olympic Park sea eagle nest cam.
Sea Eagle SE37 Starts A Busy First Day
Lady rested over SE37 and the remaining egg before rising to reveal both youngsters together in the nest bowl. SE37 sat upright beside the second egg, where a clear pip showed that SE38 was still hard at work inside. SE37 was upright, alert, and already busy exploring what it could do. The fluffy chick chirped, stretched its tiny wings, opened its beak, and shifted around the nest bowl while trying to keep those still-new legs underneath it.
Beside SE37 sat the second egg, and the shell now showed a clear pip. Faint movement could also be seen around the opening as SE38 continued working from inside. The two siblings made quite a picture. One had only recently completed the difficult journey through the shell, while the other was still inside of its own.
Receive updates like this one in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter. 🐣
SE38 Keeps Working From Inside The Egg
The progress at SE38’s pip added another layer of anticipation to an already busy day at Sydney Olympic Park. Lady laid the second egg on July 6, three days after the egg that produced SE37. Now, as sea eagle SE37 adjusted to life in the open nest, signs of activity from inside the remaining egg showed that SE38 had begun its own final stretch toward hatch.
Hatching can take time after a pip first appears, so every small movement around the opening became another sign of the work happening inside the shell. For the moment, SE38 remained tucked safely inside while its older sibling carried on just inches away.
Lunch Is Served For SE37
Before long, attention shifted from hatching to one of the other important jobs of the day: eating. Lady began tearing tiny pieces from a fish and carefully offering them to SE37. The chick lifted its head toward her and accepted several small morsels, reaching up again as Lady prepared each bite.
For such a newly hatched chick, even eating required coordination. SE37 still looked a little unsteady while stretching upward for food, but the youngster stayed interested in the meal and continued taking bites from Lady. It was a tender look at another early milestone for sea eagle SE37. Only a short time earlier, the chick had been inside an egg. Now it was sitting in the nest bowl, looking up at Lady and learning how mealtime worked.
A Quick Lesson In Keeping Those Feet Down
After lunch, Lady turned her attention back to the nest. She moved pieces of material around the bowl while SE37 watched from below. Then those new legs ran into a small problem. As SE37 looked upward, the chick leaned too far and tipped over, ultimately ending up on its back. For a few amusing moments, two tiny feet pointed into the air while SE37 chirped and tried to figure out how to get upright again.
The upside-down predicament did not last long. SE37 eventually managed to roll back over and return to a much more dignified position in the nest. It was a funny little moment, but also a fitting reminder of just how new everything still was. Balance, movement, feeding, and simply navigating the nest were all skills SE37 had only just begun to practice.
Lady Tucks Both Little Sea Eagles Back In
Once lunch and the brief tumble were behind them, Lady continued tending to her chick and the nest bowl. At one point, she leaned toward SE37’s beak and appeared to remove a small bit of food or debris. Soon, she carefully settled back over her chick and the pipping egg.
Under Lady’s feathers, the two siblings were still at very different stages. Sea eagle SE37 had spent its first full day learning about food, balance, and the world beyond the shell. Beside it, SE38 continued making progress from inside the egg. At Sydney Olympic Park, one tiny sea eagle was discovering life outside while another was still finding its way there.
EagleCAM / BirdLife Australia Southern NSW makes this live cam experience possible.
FAQ
How soon do sea eagle chicks eat after hatching?
Sea eagle chicks can begin accepting small pieces of food soon after hatching. Lady offered tiny morsels to sea eagle SE37 on its first full day outside the egg, and the chick successfully took several bites.
Is it normal for a newly hatched sea eagle chick to be unsteady?
Yes. Newly hatched chicks are still developing strength and coordination, so they can appear shaky as they lift their heads, move around the nest, and try to balance. SE37’s brief tumble onto its back was a good example of just how new those movements still were.
What does movement at a pip mean?
Movement around a pip can show that the chick is still actively working from inside the shell. Hatching is a gradual process, and the chick may rest between periods of activity as it continues opening the shell.
How long can a sea eagle chick take to hatch after pipping?
The process can take many hours, and timing varies from chick to chick. A visible pip does not mean the chick will emerge immediately because hatching requires both work and rest.
Why is Lady still brooding SE37 while SE38 is hatching?
Lady continues covering the nest because both the newly hatched chick and the pipping egg still need warmth and protection. She can brood SE37 while also keeping SE38 at a stable temperature as the hatch progresses.