At the Glen Hazel nest in Pittsburgh, the young Hays eaglets are entering a new growth stage, and their wing practice is becoming one of the clearest signs of that change. On May 13, 2026, the two eaglets were about 37 days old, still several weeks away from fledging, but already showing big progress as wing flapping, stretching, and stronger nest movement became part of their daily rhythm.
Their bodies are changing quickly now. The small, downy nestlings of spring are becoming sturdy young bald eagles with darker feathers, longer wings, stronger legs, and growing control over their movements. The nest is still their whole world, but it is no longer just a resting place. It is turning into a training ground.
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Hays Eaglets Wing Practice Takes Over the Nest
One of the eaglets began with a lively round of wing-ersizing, flapping hard and moving across the sticks with growing confidence. At just over five weeks old, this is not a sign that first flight is close. Instead, it is part of the long physical preparation that will continue for weeks.
Early wing practicing helps the Hays eaglets build strength, balance, and coordination little by little. Every flap works the muscles they’ll need for flight later on, and every hop across the uneven nest floor helps them learn how to control their growing bodies.
Their wings are already impressive, but they still have a lot of developing to do. This is the stage when the eaglets may look suddenly large one day and still very young the next, a feathered in-between stage where growth seems to happen by the hour.
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The Last Baby Down Still Tells the Story
One of the most charming details right now is the bit of pale, fuzzy down still sticking up around their heads. That “mohawk” look is a perfect clue to their age. They are not tiny chicks anymore, but they are not yet fully feathered young eagles either.
Their darker juvenile feathers are coming in across the body, replacing the soft down they wore during their earliest weeks. Those new feathers will eventually give them the sleeker look of first-year bald eagles, though they will remain mostly brown for years.
Young bald eagles do not develop the classic white head and white tail of adulthood until they are about four or five years old. For now, these Hays eaglets are in their young chocolate-brown stage, with a few wisps of babyhood still hanging on like nature’s little sticky notes.
Preening Becomes Part of the Daily Routine
While one eaglet worked through its wing practice, the other settled into a careful preening session. It used its beak to clean and align its feathers, drawing them back into place and tending to the new plumage coming in.
Preening may look quiet, but it is an important part of development. As feathers grow, the eaglets need to keep them clean and properly arranged. Healthy feathers will matter later when they begin stronger flapping, branching, and eventually taking their first flight.
At this age, preening is also part of learning body control. The eaglets are becoming more coordinated as they reach around, balance, stretch, and manage feathers that are growing in fast.
Stronger Feet and Sharper Balance Show Up in Small Movements
The Hays nest is built from uneven sticks, and that makes every step a tiny balance lesson. The eaglets move carefully across the nest floor, gripping with their talons and shifting their weight as they explore.
Their feet and talons are already powerful tools, even though they are still learning how to use them. Each step across the nest helps build coordination. Each turn, stretch, and repositioning helps them become steadier.
This is one of the quieter signs of growth. The big wing flaps catch attention first, but the careful footwork matters just as much. Before an eaglet can launch from a branch someday, it first has to master standing, turning, gripping, and balancing in the nest.
A Full Wing Stretch Shows How Fast They Are Growing
One eaglet stood and opened its wings in a long stretch, revealing how much size it has gained in only a few weeks. The stretch showed growing primary feathers and a wingspan that is becoming more impressive by the day.
This kind of stretch is both a comfort move and a little workout. It loosens the body, flexes the joints, and lets the eaglet test the reach of its growing wings. At 37 days old, those wings are not ready for first flight yet, but wing practice is clearly becoming a bigger part of daily life for the Hays eaglets.
The stage is not “almost ready to fledge.” It is better understood as “busy building the equipment.” The wings are there, the instincts are stirring, and the practice is beginning, but the timeline still has weeks to go.
The Siblings Watch the World Beyond the Nest
Later, both young eagles stood together and scanned the area beyond the nest. Their heads moved with quick, focused turns as they tracked activity in the distance. They may have been following a parent, another bird, or movement in the trees around the nest.
This alert behavior is another important part of growing up. The eaglets are learning the sights and rhythms of their territory from the safety of the nest. The Glen Hazel area sits within Pittsburgh’s wooded river landscape, near the Monongahela River corridor, where the adult Hays eagles have access to hunting habitat.
Young eagles spend plenty of time observing the world around them, and those quiet moments are part of their development too. Long before they fly, they are already studying movement, sound, distance, and activity around the nest tree.
For now, the nest remains their safe center. The sky can wait. These two young Hays eaglets are still busy becoming ready.
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FAQ
How old were the Hays eaglets on May 13, 2026?
If the eaglets were about 30 days old on May 6, they were about 37 days old on May 13, 2026.
Are the Hays eaglets close to fledging?
No. At about 37 days old, they are still several weeks away from fledging. Their wing practice is an early part of development, not a sign that first flight is imminent.
What is wing-ersizing?
Wing-ersizing is a nickname for the flapping and stretching young eagles do as they develop. It helps build strength, balance, and coordination for later stages of growth.
Why do the eaglets still have fuzzy feathers on their heads?
Those pale fuzzy feathers are leftover down from their younger chick stage. As they grow, darker juvenile feathers continue replacing the soft baby down.
Why do young eaglets preen so much?
Preening helps keep new feathers clean, aligned, and healthy. It also helps young eaglets practice balance and body control as their feathers come in.
When do bald eagles usually fledge?
Bald eagles often fledge around 10 to 14 weeks of age, depending on the bird, nest conditions, and development. These Hays eaglets still have more growing and strengthening to do before that stage.