Mr. President, a prominent bald eagle at the US National Arboretum in Washington DC, is set to welcome at least one new offspring with Lotus, its partner since February 2022.
Lotus, the successor to Mr. President’s former partner First Lady, was spotted in an incubating position, with the egg likely laid between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, wildlife biologist Dan Rauch told The Washington Post.
Officials intend to conduct their yearly helicopter surveillance of the eagle couple’s nest to determine the exact number of eggs laid by the female eagle.
The incubation period for bald eagles spans 34 to 36 days, with hatching expected between April 9 and 11. Rauch noted that this year’s egg-laying had been delayed, attributing it partly to the cold winter weather.
At 8 years, Lotus is much younger than Mr. President, aged approximately 16-17, approaching the typical 20-year lifespan of bald eagles.
Mr. President and First Lady
Mr. President, also known as Mr. P, initially paired with First Lady in December 2013, and produced eight eaglets. However, the eighth offspring succumbed to West Nile virus in 2018.
Mr. P and First Lady’s first eaglet was born in 2014.
Mr. P, and First Lady built a nest near the arboretum’s azalea garden, the first such instance for a bald eagle couple at the property in 68 years. A 24/7 live feed from a web camera in a tree near the nest made the pair popular.
The pair’s relationship deteriorated due to breeding difficulties. Additionally, First Lady’s seasonal absences led to Mr. P entertaining other potential mates, resulting in dramatic aerial confrontations. Despite reconciliation attempts, First Lady left permanently on Valentine’s Day 2022, and Lotus came in the next day.
Bald eagles typically maintain lifelong partnerships when breeding successfully, but could seek new mates if reproduction fails.
Also, eagles relocate their nests for various reasons, including predator presence, tree health, or structural concerns.
Mr. President and Lotus
Lotus (short for Lady Of The United States) first became a mom in 2022. Its nest with Mr. P and their eaglets is in a more secluded, wooded area of the arboretum. Experts decided not to install a camera at the new nest, which overlooks the golf course, about a mile as the eagle flies, from the old nest.
Number of active bald eagle nests in D.C. area at decades-high mark
There were as many as 26 active bald eagle nests last year in the D.C. area last year, reaching a decades-high mark.
The population growth stems from pesticide restrictions and the 1970s Endangered Species Act, alongside habitat improvements and environmental initiatives. Though removed from endangered status in 2007, bald eagles remain federally protected. The Lower 48 states now host 71,000 breeding pairs, up significantly from under 500 in the 1960s, according to US Fish and Wildlife Service data.
“It’s pretty impressive. It shows bald eagles have really come back to the area strong,” Rauch, the wildlife biologist, said.
In December 2024, then-US President Joe Biden officially designated the bald eagle as the national bird.
