'Murphy is not lonely!' Bald eagle falls in love with a rock before becoming baby's adopted dad

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read
13

In recent weeks, a bald eagle at a Missouri bird sanctuary has been taking good care of a rock. So much so  that he has been sitting on it waiting for it to hatch.

The 31-year-old eagle's adoration for the stone kept his keepers at bay – they said separating Murphy from his rock would lead to heartbreak.

So when a recently orphaned eagle needed a dad, Murphy stepped up to help at his home at World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park in St. Louis County.

"Although it might make you feel sad that Murphy has built a nest and is nurturing a rock as an egg, it’s just his hormonal response to spring," the sanctuary posted on Facebook. "Murphy is not sad, so you don’t need to be."

A sign on the eagles’ enclosure sought to suppress visitors’ concerns. Murphy is “not hurt, sick, or otherwise in distress," it read. "Murphy is not lonely! He is housed with 4 other bald eagles."

Sanctuary officials say Murphy has a permanent wing injury and cannot fly, so he must remain under sanctuary care.

Bird flu virus: Lab-created bird flu virus accident shows lax oversight of risky 'gain of function' research

When a recently orphaned eagle needed a dad, Murphy stepped up to help at their home at World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park in St. Louis County. "Although it might make you feel sad that Murphy has built a nest and is nurturing a rock as an egg, it’s just his hormonal response to spring," the sanctuary posted on Facebook. "Murphy is not sad, so you don’t need to be."

'Normal behavior'

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, bald eagles live 15 to 25 years in the wild but longer in captivity.

Breeding bald eagles typically lay one to three eggs once a year.

Sanctuary officials wrote male eagles play a large part in raising young, so Murphy's behavior with his rock is not unusual.

"Murphy does not need a real egg to feel accomplished. He’s quite content with his rock, and VERY protective of it," the post reads." After his spring hormones have run their course, he will get bored and move on to other activities.

"This is where you can feel sad – for the rock."

More coverage from USA TODAY

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missouri bald eagle who sat on rock becomes foster dad to injured baby