A Male Bald Eagle That Was Trying To Hatch A Rock Has Been Given A Chick To Raise (Pics & Video)

A permanently injured bald eagle who can't fly is living out the rest of his days at a bird sanctuary in Missouri. Last month, one of his caretakers at World Bird Sanctuary (WBS) noticed something odd. Keeper Kerstin saw Murphy the eagle protecting a large depression in the ground. The spot was sparsely but carefully decorated with leaves and branches, and featured a simple rock right in the center.

Last week, an eagle nest containing two chicks near Ste. Genevieve, Missouri was blown down by very high winds. One chick perished in the fall, but the other was found and rescued by a faithful nest watcher who brought the chick to World Bird Sanctuary's Wildlife Hospital. The staff decided to give Murphy a chance at fostering a real baby. However, at 31 years old, Murphy had never raised a chick before. It was definitely a gamble, but also the chick's best chance at survival. "BabyRock" was removed, and the chick was introduced to his enclosure.