Murphy, the famous bald eagle who made headlines for caring for a rock, is now showing his nurturing side once again by bonding with an orphaned eaglet at a sanctuary in Missouri. The 31-year-old bird, named Murphy, captured the hearts of many after pictures of him sitting on a rock in his enclosure went viral on Twitter. Despite the unusual sight, a sign on his fence assured visitors that Murphy was simply taking care of his “nest.” Now, this gentle giant has taken on a new role as a parental figure to a baby bird in need. We can’t wait to see how this heartwarming story unfolds!
The social media post received over 4.5 million views and nearly 140,000 likes. A few days later, the animal sanctuary provided a follow-up on their Facebook page regarding Murphy and the rock, affectionately named “RockBaby.”
“Don’t feel blue about Murphy building a nest and caring for a rock as if it were an egg, it’s just his way of reacting to the season change. Murphy is actually quite content, so there’s no need for you to be sad too,” the social media post explained. An update on April 4 revealed that Murphy had become so attached to RockBaby that he claimed a significant portion of the shared enclosure space, which totaled 90,000 cubic square feet, from the four other eagles.
Because of Murphy’s unruly behavior, both him and the rock were relocated to an area that was off-limits to visitors.
However, Murphy received some positive news despite not initially being considered for the job. On April 2, the sanctuary posted pictures of a young injured bald eagle they had taken in after its nest was destroyed in a storm. They mentioned that the chick would need to be paired with an adult eagle to prevent it from becoming too attached to humans. Surprisingly, on April 12, the sanctuary revealed that Murphy had turned out to be the best choice for the young eagle after all.
After careful consideration, the team at the sanctuary decided to entrust Murphy with the task of fostering the eaglet. Even though Murphy’s paternal instincts were strong, at 31 years old, he had never cared for a young bird before. Despite the uncertainty, this was seen as the best option for the chick’s well-being.
The eaglet was introduced to Murphy in a makeshift nursery made of wood and wire, playfully dubbed as “Baby Jail” by the sanctuary staff. As Murphy and the chick got acquainted, the team closely observed their interactions. Eventually, Murphy began to care for and feed the eaglet, providing it with much-needed protection.
The sanctuary shared an adorable photo on Facebook, showing Murphy and the chick bonding. The fuzzy face of the eaglet was described as heartwarming, especially as it incessantly chirped for food. Fortunately, Murphy had the support of the sanctuary staff to ensure the chick’s needs were met.
Following a bout of harsh weather including tornadoes in Missouri on April 16, the sanctuary reported discovering a chick in distress due to hypothermia and shock. The chick was promptly taken to the sanctuary hospital for treatment before being reunited with Murphy in a stronger and enhanced nest to further their connection.
Insider’s inquiry for a statement from the World Bird Sanctuary has yet to receive a response.
