A ruckus was unfolding in a bird sanctuary in Missouri.
Staff members were perplexed as one of their eagles, Murphy, was acting a bit antsy than usual.
He was screeching and charging at anyone who dared to approach his carefully crafted nest.
Staff members said they’d never seen an eagle protect a nest like he did. But there’s one problem – his egg is a rock.
Murphy, a bald eagle residing in the World Bird Sanctuary in Missouri, has taken on a unique role.
Murphy was desperate to be a dad.
Despite being unable to fly due to an old injury, this bird had been eagerly preparing to become a father.
However, the egg he was protecting was nothing more than just a piece of round rock.
Murphy, the staff said, was experiencing a spring hormonal surge and it was compelling him to brood, despite not having an egg.
To satisfy the urge, some birds get fixated on egg-like objects instead.
His instincts remained steadfast, however.
The sanctuary’s executive director, Roger Holloway, recalls how Murphy’s dedication to the rock grew stronger with each passing day.
Concerned for his well-being, the keepers decided to relocate Murphy to a separate enclosure to ensure his safety.
Little did they know, Murphy’s life was about to change.
In Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, news arrived of a young eaglet that had fallen from its nest during a storm.
The World Bird Sanctuary saw this as an opportunity to fulfill Murphy’s longing to become a father.
It was a chance for him to channel all his spring energy to a real eaglet.
Murphy was going to give it his all.
They cautiously introduced the eaglet, protected by a cage, into Murphy’s enclosure, hoping he would embrace his new role as a surrogate parent.
To facilitate their connection, the “rock baby” was removed.
It was an extremely precarious moment but it also allowed the eaglet and Murphy to spend quality time together.
Remarkably, Murphy’s responded to the eaglet’s peeps well. After a week, the cage was removed, enabling them to interact more intimately.
As Murphy and the eaglet shared their meals, a heartwarming transformation began.
Instead of eating their food separately, Murphy tore up his own fish and fed it to the young eaglet.
People in the sanctuary expressed their joy as it was a confirmation of Murphy’s fatherly instincts.
They have been adjusting well to each other.
For the staff, it was a tricky bait-and-switch. But for Murphy, he must be telling people “I knew it was an egg all along, folks. Look at my handsome child!”
“We have fortified the nest to hopefully keep our little toddler from wandering outside of the safety zone of the more covered area of the enclosure.” The staff said in a video they shared on Facebook. “The larger branches have been screwed into place, while the smaller ones are free for Murphy to move around at will.”
Those who have been following Murphy’s story were so delighted as well.
“He’s fortunate in the sanctuary to have the compassion and care. I’m watching SWFL Eagles ‘Harriet MOM’ missing since February 2nd and ‘M15 DAD’ raising E21 and E22, fighting off predators and intruders, and feeding them. The devotion M15 has for Harriet and his eaglets is amazing.”
“Male bald eagles take an equal part in raising young, so this is a very natural behavior for a male.” The sanctuary shared in their post. The sanctuary is also thinking of auctioning Murphy’s rock.
Watch how this eagle gets his wish to be a father in the video below!
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