Some animals are simply born to be amazing parents. While most people naturally think of mothers as the primary caregivers in the animal world, there are special cases where fathers show incredible nurturing instincts. One of the most heartwarming examples comes from a bald eagle named Murphy, who surprised everyone at a bird sanctuary with his fatherly behavior. His story first grabbed attention when he began caring for a simple rock, treating it as if it were his own egg. But when destiny stepped in, Murphy finally got a chance to become a real father to a living eaglet who desperately needed love and protection.
Murphy is a 31-year-old bald eagle who lives at the World Bird Sanctuary, located in Valley Park, Missouri. Due to an old injury, Murphy is unable to fly and has been cared for at the sanctuary for many years. Earlier this spring, the caretakers at the sanctuary noticed something quite unusual about Murphy’s behavior. He had started gathering sticks and twigs to build himself a nest inside his enclosure, which is not uncommon during breeding season. However, what caught their attention was that Murphy was carefully guarding and sitting on a small, round rock inside the nest, treating it like a precious egg.
As time passed, it became clear that Murphy wasn’t just casually sitting in the nest; he was fully committed to his role. Like a devoted parent, Murphy gently turned the rock, sheltered it under his feathers, and even chased away other curious eagles that came too close. The sanctuary staff found his actions endearing but also amusing. In fact, Murphy’s behavior puzzled enough visitors that the sanctuary decided to put up a sign near his enclosure to explain what was going on.
The sign read: “If you see an eagle lying down in the back left corner under a perch, that’s Murphy! Murphy is not injured, sick, or in any distress. He has built himself a nest on the ground and is currently incubating a rock! We wish him the best of luck!”
It didn’t take long for Murphy’s story to go viral across social media. People from all over the world reacted to the news of this devoted eagle caring for a rock. Some found the situation humorous, while others felt a sense of sadness, thinking Murphy was experiencing unfulfilled parental instincts. However, the sanctuary was quick to clear up any misconceptions. In a post on Facebook, they reassured the public that Murphy was perfectly fine and simply responding to his natural hormonal changes that occur during spring.
“Although it might make you feel sad that Murphy has built a nest and is caring for a rock as if it were an egg, this behavior is completely natural,” the sanctuary explained. “Murphy is not unhappy, so there’s no need to worry about him.”
They also clarified that Murphy was not lonely, as he lived with four other bald eagles in the same area. All of them were well taken care of, with plenty of food, attention, and enrichment. Due to his wing injury, Murphy will remain at the sanctuary for life, as returning to the wild would be unsafe for him. Many fans suggested that the sanctuary give Murphy a real egg, perhaps from a goose or chicken, but the staff explained that introducing such eggs would put any baby at risk since they require different care than eagles provide.
However, as luck would have it, an unexpected event created the perfect opportunity for Murphy to fulfill his parental instincts. A wild eagle nest in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri was destroyed by strong winds, tragically killing one of the chicks inside. Fortunately, one chick survived and was taken to the sanctuary’s Wildlife Hospital for medical attention. The rescued chick was described as “bruised and battered,” but in overall stable condition. The sanctuary staff immediately began brainstorming the best plan for the orphaned eaglet’s future, and it didn’t take long before they decided that Murphy might be the perfect foster parent.
“Murphy already had strong parenting instincts this spring, but at 31 years old, he had never actually raised a chick before,” the sanctuary shared on Facebook. “It was definitely a risk, but also the chick’s best chance to thrive.”
The sanctuary’s chief executive, Dawn Griffard, told The New York Times, “It was one of those moments where you just ask yourself, how could we not give him this opportunity?”
To ensure the safety of both Murphy and the eaglet, the team created a “baby jail,” a small wooden enclosure placed inside Murphy’s space. This setup allowed the eaglet and Murphy to observe and get comfortable with each other without any immediate physical interaction that could cause harm. Over time, Murphy showed positive signs of accepting the baby. Eventually, the chick was released from the protected space, and Murphy embraced his role as a foster father.
The sanctuary proudly reported that Murphy was showing exactly the kind of protective and nurturing behavior they had hoped for. He responded to the baby’s cries, defended the area around the chick, and acted like a dedicated parent. Dawn Griffard noted, “You can absolutely see the bond forming between them, and it’s exactly the outcome we wanted.”
Murphy’s journey from caring for a rock to raising a real eaglet is both inspiring and heartwarming. It shows how strong natural instincts can be and reminds us that every animal has the capacity for love and care. Murphy finally got his chance to be a father, and from all reports, he is doing an outstanding job. Stories like this highlight the beauty of the animal world and the incredible work done by wildlife sanctuaries. We’re so happy for Murphy and his new chick. If this heartwarming story brought a smile to your face, don’t forget to share it with others! 🦅❤️
