CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An eaglet at the Carolina Raptor Center continues to grow and flap its wings while staff continues to research how its sibling died last week.
Staff entered the nest on Thursday and retrieved the dead eaglet.
Medical staff examined the eaglet and found nothing abnormal.
"She was a female, and had plenty of abdominal fat, meaning Derek and Savannah were feeding her well. Her lungs, liver, and air sacs were all normal," said Michelle Miller Houck, with the Carolina Raptor Center. "She had been much smaller than her sibling all along."
Medical staff also examined the surviving eaglet, which is three weeks old. The eaglet weighs four pounds and 14.62 ounces.
The eaglet was immediately returned to its nest after handling. Savannah and Derek continued to feed the eaglet several times throughout the afternoon.
In two weeks, the eaglet will be taken to a 30-feet tall hack tower, which looks similar to a tree fort, where it will learn to live on its own and get acclimated to the wild.
A full medical examination will take place prior to the move to the hack tower. At that time staff will do a DNA sample to determine the sex.
The eaglet will be released around 12 weeks old.
