The Camera Came Back — And Minutes Later, the Season Began
For a brief stretch on February 24, the Glen Hazel (Hays) bald eagle nest cam was offline.
Then it returned.
GHF, known to many as Mom, was already on the nest when the live stream came back online. She wasn’t resting quietly. She was moving with intention, slowly circling the nest bowl, tugging at grasses, digging gently into the cup she had carefully shaped. Every few steps she paused, scanning her surroundings as wind lifted the feathers along her head and back.
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The sun was shining over Pittsburgh. The tree swayed slightly. It looked like a typical late winter afternoon.
But within minutes, it became something much more.
After about twenty minutes of steady nest preparation, GHF lowered herself into the bowl. Her back feathers lifted subtly. Her posture changed.
At approximately 3:00 PM EST, she laid the first egg of the 2026 season.
And viewers watched it happen live.
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A First Look at the 2026 Egg
Almost immediately after laying, she rose carefully and stepped back.
She looked at the egg.
For the first time this year, viewers saw it clearly in the nest bowl, resting against the grasses she had just arranged. It was a quiet but powerful moment, the official start of another nesting season at the Hays site.
When she settled back down, something caught viewers’ attention. At first, she did not fully tuck the egg beneath her. It remained slightly visible in front of her body as the breeze continued to ripple through her feathers.
Within a few minutes, she adjusted. She shifted her footing, lowered herself more securely, and gently pulled the egg fully underneath her.
Incubation had begun.
Wind, Sun, and the Start of a New Chapter
It was fairly windy at the nest. Feathers lifted and fluttered in the breeze. The tree rocked softly, but the sunlight held steady, casting a warm glow across the scene.
That single egg now marks the official beginning of the Glen Hazel bald eagle nesting season for 2026. For longtime followers of this Pittsburgh pair, it is a familiar rhythm, while for new viewers, it marks the start of something extraordinary.
Could a Second Egg Be Coming?
Bald eagles commonly lay two eggs per clutch, spaced roughly three days apart.
If Glen Hazel follows that typical timing, a second egg could arrive around February 27.
Incubation usually lasts about 35 days from the time the final egg is laid. Both parents will take turns keeping the egg warm and protected as late winter slowly gives way to spring.
For now, though, all eyes remain on that first egg tucked safely beneath Mom as she settles into the patient work ahead.
We appreciate PixCams for making this live eagle cam possible and for helping connect viewers to the fascinating world of bald eagles.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Glen Hazel lay her first egg in 2026?
Glen Hazel laid her first egg on February 24, 2026, at approximately 3:00 PM EST.
How long after the camera returned was the egg laid?
The egg was laid roughly 20 minutes after the camera came back online.
Will Glen Hazel lay another egg?
Most bald eagles lay two eggs per season, so a second egg could arrive about three days after the first.
How long does bald eagle incubation last?
Bald eagle incubation typically lasts about 35 days from the time the final egg is laid.
