Miami Zoo’s Ron Magil on ‘Rita’ lays second egg on Live Bald Eagle Camera – CBS Miami

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – “Rita,” Miami’s most famous bald eagle, laid a second egg – and it was caught live on Eagle Cam once again!

The first miracle happened the day before Thanksgiving.

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“I just thought it was so symbolic, especially on Thanksgiving. I mean, thank my family and everything, but that was such a special gift. It was like the bird saying “thank you” for giving her this platform to show the world how amazing these birds are. That they made such a comeback, ”said Ron Magill, Communications Director of Zoo Miami.

The bald eagle “Rita” lays her first egg on the live cam. (Source: Ron Magill)

Magill, who is also the founder of the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment, has partnered with Lloyd Brown and Wildlife Rescue of Dade County to build a platform for an eagle’s nest with five live cameras after Rita’s nest was 25m after a storm in March fell to the ground.

One eagle died and another suffered a broken wing.

The surviving young bald eagle was released after five months of rehabilitation.

WATCH: Bald Eagles begin nesting on a bespoke platform

After the little eagle was released, attention returned to its parents, a couple who have been connected for over a decade and have had very limited success raising chicks. The instability of the nesting site, to which they returned year after year, was part of the problem.

The hope was that the new stable platform, built in a nest tree near the original location, would help the Companions to succeed.

And it worked!

Magill wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday: “OMG !!! It just happened !!! “Rita”, the bald eagle we saw on the eagle nest camera, together with her buddy “Ron” has just laid an egg !!!! I couldn’t believe it when I saw it live !! “

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Yes, the eagles are named after Magill and his wife Rita.

Magill posted on Thursday that the eagle “Rita” should lay another egg in the next few days.

And Magill was right!

Just a few days later, Rita laid her second egg.

“I have goosebumps and tears in my eyes as I write this !! This is an incredible journey that we can all take part in thanks to the Wildlife Rescue of Dade County and the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment, ”Magill wrote on his Facebook account.

Although Magill realizes that many things can go wrong, he asks, “that you all hope and pray with me that Rita and Ron can successfully hatch these eggs and that their chicks can fledge!”

Assuming all goes well, Magill said the chicks should hatch between Christmas and New Years.

Eagles usually mate for a lifetime and protecting them is important. After all, they’re America’s national symbol and didn’t appear on the Endangered Species List until 2007.

Magill said it has been a blessed journey to watch these beautiful birds conquer everything.

November and December are their traditional egg-laying time, so keep an eye on the Eagle Cam because you never know what might happen in the days ahead.

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And if you would like to support the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment, click here.

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