Wotan, our male Bald Eagle, has become a dad, as the centre breeds its first Bald Eagle chick.

Wotan, who arrived in 2004 and was a regular member of our flying team for a number of years, was paired up with Sue, who is on loan from Gauntlet Bird of Prey, Eagle and Vulture Park.

It took them about a year to get used to each other and when Sue laid an (infertile) egg last year, we were confident that the pair were starting to form a strong bond. This year, the bond was even stronger as Sue laid another egg and whlst incubating, Wotan very proudly stood guard - cackling and shouting at everything that came too close. The egg hatched on April 3rd and both Sue and Wotan were doting parents. The chick quickly grew and at the end of June fledged the nest. In the next couple of weeks, we will be taking the chick out of the avairy and training it up to fly in one of our daily displays.