SE38 hatches at Sydney Olympic Park, and Lady and Dad officially have two tiny sea eagle chicks in the nest. But the timing of this second arrival tells an even more remarkable story—one that began weeks ago when Lady and Dad delayed steady incubation.
Video recorded and shared by Bea’s Binoculars on YouTube.
Watch Live <— Sydney Olympic Park sea eagle nest cam.
SE38 Hatches At Sydney Olympic Park
By 5:54 AM Sydney time on August 14, SE38 had made it completely out of the shell. The newest White-bellied Sea-Eagle soon rested beside SE37, who had already spent a full day adjusting to life outside the egg. Suddenly, the nest bowl that held two eggs only days earlier had become home to two fluffy, wobbly chicks. SE38 entered a world where its sibling had only a small head start. Both chicks still struggled with balance as they lifted their heads, shifted their oversized feet, and tried to steady their tiny bodies. One moment brought two fuzzy faces peeking above the nest bowl. The next ended with a wobble, a lean, or a gentle tumble back into the soft nesting material.
Lady stayed close while her chicks settled beside one another. After weeks of protecting the eggs, she now had two hatchlings needing warmth, food, and constant care. Dad’s role also entered a new stage as the demands of raising two growing chicks replaced the long wait for hatching. For now, their world is small: a nest, a parent’s warmth, and the next wobble forward.
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Delayed Incubation Helps Explain The Remarkable Timing
The most surprising part of SE38’s hatch began more than a month ago. Lady laid the first egg on July 3 and the second on July 6, leaving 77 hours and 34 minutes between them. A gap of more than three days could have created a much larger age difference between the chicks. Instead, Lady and Dad delayed steady incubation after the first egg arrived. That slower start kept the first egg from gaining the full developmental head start that its laying date might suggest. Once regular incubation began, the two eggs moved through much of their development on a closer schedule.
The result became clear when hatching began. Although Lady laid the eggs 77 hours and 34 minutes apart, SE37 and SE38 hatched just under 25 hours apart. The difference between those two numbers shows just how much the delayed incubation narrowed the gap. That timing gives the siblings a much closer start than their laying dates suggested. SE37 may be the older chick, but only by about a day. Instead of beginning life several days apart, the pair will move through these earliest stages at nearly the same age. More than three days separated their eggs. In the end, nature brought the chicks into the world barely a day apart.
Lady Offers SE37 And SE38 Tiny Bites Of Fish
With both chicks finally out of their shells, feeding quickly became one of Lady’s newest responsibilities. She offered SE37 and SE38 tiny morsels of fish during the day as each chick tried to lift its head and reach toward her. Not every piece made it past those little beaks, but even the attempts marked another important first step.
At this age, eating takes coordination that the chicks are only beginning to develop. They must steady their heads, aim toward Lady, open their beaks, and successfully take a piece of food. Their crops are still very small as well, so these first meals do not need to contain much. Lady remained patient as the chicks tried. Between feeding attempts, SE37 and SE38 rested close together and conserved their energy. After the exhausting work of hatching, even a few successful bites can become part of a very busy day.
SE38 Hatches As A New Chapter Begins
Life in the nest has changed quickly for Lady and Dad. For more than a month, their daily routine centered on two eggs tucked safely beneath them. Then SE37 emerged, and less than 25 hours later, SE38 followed. Now those smooth eggs have been replaced by two downy chicks learning how their bodies work. Their heads can look almost too heavy for them, while their feet and legs still seem unsure about which direction to go. A determined effort to sit upright can quickly become a sideways flop, followed by another attempt a few moments later.
The siblings already spend these earliest hours close together. They rest, wobble, stretch, and disappear beneath Lady whenever warmth or protection becomes more important than exploring the nest bowl. Because their hatch times fell so close together, many of their first milestones may unfold almost side by side. The long wait for hatching is over, but Lady and Dad’s busiest chapter is only beginning. With two fluffy chicks now sharing the nest, there is still so much left to unfold beneath Lady’s wings.
EagleCAM / BirdLife Australia Southern NSW makes this live cam experience possible.
FAQ
When did SE38 hatch?
SE38 was first seen completely outside the shell by 5:54 AM Sydney time on August 14, 2026. The chick hatched less than 25 hours after sibling SE37.
How far apart did SE37 and SE38 hatch?
SE37 and SE38 hatched just under 25 hours apart. Their close arrival times are especially notable because Lady laid the two eggs 77 hours and 34 minutes apart.
Why did SE37 and SE38 hatch so close together?
Lady and Dad delayed steady incubation after the first egg arrived. That delayed start reduced the developmental head start of the first egg and helped bring the eventual hatch times much closer together.
Did Lady feed both chicks after SE38 hatched?
Yes. Lady offered both chicks small morsels of fish during the day. SE37 and SE38 are still very young, so they are learning how to lift their heads, reach toward her, and successfully take food.
