Snowbound but Unshaken: Devoted Eagle Mom Braves Winter to Protect Her Eggs

A Mother’s Instinct: Bella the Eagle Refuses to Abandon Her Eggs — Even in a Snowstorm

High above the Potomac River in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, an inspiring story of maternal devotion unfolds every winter. Bella, a bald eagle, has once again proven how far a mother will go to protect her young. In the middle of a severe snowstorm, Bella remained in her nest — buried up to her neck in snow — keeping her precious eggs warm.

Bella and her lifelong mate, Smitty, have returned to this same towering sycamore tree, nearly 100 feet tall, every breeding season since 2011. Their mission is always the same: raise their chicks, no matter the obstacles.

According to Randy Robinson, an instructional systems specialist with the National Conservation Training Center, the pair are a model of eagle parenting. “They are incredibly committed,” he shared during a Facebook Live session. “These birds sit on their eggs around the clock — day and night.”

While both parents participate in raising the offspring, it's Bella who shoulders most of the incubation duty. She spends roughly 80% of her time on the nest, while Smitty ventures out to catch fish and bring back food. Their breeding season starts early in the year — often in January or February — when conditions are at their harshest. Freezing rain, sleet, and snow are common challenges, but Bella never abandons her post.

“The strategy is simple but smart,” said Robinson. “By laying their eggs early, the chicks hatch by mid-March, just in time for a seasonal boom in food availability.”

Bella is slightly larger than Smitty — a trait common among female eagles — and uses her body to shield the eggs from the cold. She carefully presses her brood patch, a featherless area on her belly, directly against the eggs to maintain a constant, warm temperature. Every hour, she rotates the eggs to ensure even heating, and keeps the nest soft by fluffing up the dry grass beneath them.

Survival in these conditions is made possible by the eagles’ natural advantages: thick down feathers, strong beaks, and sharp talons that deter predators. Even after the eggs hatch, the work continues. The eaglets remain in the nest for up to three months, gradually gaining strength to take flight. During that time, Bella and Smitty tirelessly feed and nurture them — and even after fledging, the young birds are still guided and supported by their parents as they learn to hunt and fend for themselves.

This remarkable eagle pair has captivated viewers around the globe through the National Conservation Training Center’s live eagle cam. Thousands tune in to watch the daily drama and devotion unfold in real time, moved by the depth of care and sacrifice these birds exhibit.

Bella’s story isn’t just about wildlife. It’s a stirring reminder of the unwavering love and instinctual drive that defines parenthood in all its forms — and just how far a mother will go when her children need her most.