Bald eagle chick killed by father within hours of hatching in West Virginia: 'Unexpected behavior'

A chick hatched Monday at the bald eagle nest at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, but its life was cut short after "unexpected behavior" from the father.

*Video shows the eagle mother protecting her eggs during a thunderstorm.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — A chick hatched Monday at the bald eagle nest at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, but its life was cut short after "unexpected behavior" from the father.

The NCTC said in a Facebook post Tuesday that the chick hatched around 11:30 a.m. Monday and was fed "what we did not know would be its first and last meal" of fish by its mother before 5 p.m.

About two hours later, however, the father "seemed confused," "was rough with the eaglet," and "ultimately consumed the hatchling."

"Bird behavior is complex and driven by hormones and instinct," the post said. "It is best not to think of birds of prey in human terms and having human emotions. Bald eagles are naturally predatory and aggressive; that's the only way they can survive."

The center said that although the chick's death is "heartbreaking," it's not uncommon for birds of prey to attack or even eat their young and that it has been seen in other nests.

"This difficult event offers a valuable lesson about the circle of life. Nature can be wonderful and very harsh — at the same time," the post said.

The baby eagle was the first NCTC chick born in West Virginia this year.

The male bald eagle at the nest in Shepherdstown is also young — only about five years old, according to the NCTC. The previous male, who had been there since 2011, left the nest last fall, and the current male moved in after that. Before the eggs were laid, the NCTC said the current male is likely in his first mating season.

There is one surviving egg at the nest, expected to hatch within the next few days. The eagle couple originally laid three eggs, but the first one was likely not viable and cracked before it could hatch.

The chick's death comes just days after video captured the mother eagle unflinchingly protecting her eggs during a thunderstorm.