Cute Photos and Videos Show Disabled Bald Eagle Be an Awesome Foster Dad

A disabled bald eagle, Murphy, became a viral sensation last year after he raised an orphaned eaglet so it could be safely released in the wild. This year, the fatherly bird has raised yet another eaglet.

Murphy first enamored people online after he carefully built a nest and took to caring for a rock. The bird, who has lived much of his three decades at World Bird Sanctuary in Missouri after suffering an injury that robbed Murphy of his ability to fly. As visitors came through the sanctuary, they raised concerns about Murphy, who was staying in one area on the ground of his enclosure.

Murphy had built a nest, as is natural for bald eagles each spring, and was “incubating” a rock. Murphy, who typically shares space with other eagles, became so protective of his nest and rock that he was moved to a private enclosure.

“We’ve never had a bird at the sanctuary protect a nest like that, so viciously. He was very much about it,” World Bird Sanctuary’s CEO, Dawn Griffard, told The Washington Post in 2023.

While Murphy became an online hit as people enjoyed watching the bird care for a rock, Murphy’s parental instincts proved vital for an orphaned eaglet that arrived at the sanctuary last year.

The eaglet and its sibling had been in a nest that was blown from a tree in a storm. The surviving bird was brought to the World Bird Sanctuary to try to heal and eventually be released. With the goal of returning the baby bird to the wild once it was ready, the team needed it to spend time with an eagle, not people.

Griffard called Murphy “the best choice.” His rock-rearing skills transferred nicely to an actual baby bird. The eaglet, officially known as Bald Eagle 23-126, was raised well by Murphy and released into the wild.

This year, Murphy got another chance to raise an eaglet, 24-159, and Nine PBS was on the scene to record the heartwarming moments.

Like 23-126, the new eaglet arrived at the World Bird Sanctuary after falling from its nest. Unlike its “older sibling” of sorts, the new baby bird arrived with significant injuries and is still recovering at the sanctuary. It is now under the care of some of the sanctuary’s other rehab patients. Good luck, 24-159.