First of 3 eggs hatches at U.S. Steel bald eagle nest

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First of 3 eggs hatches at U.S. Steel bald eagle nest

By Brian C. Rittmeyer

1 Min Read • March 29, 2026 | 22 hours ago

| Sunday, March 29, 2026 12:01 a.m.

A newly hatched bald eagle eaglet, covered in light gray downy feathers, in the nest near the U.S. Steel Irvin plant rests next to two unhatched eggs. (Courtesy of PixCams)

The first of three eggs in the bald eagle nest near U.S. Steel’s Irvin plant in West Mifflin hatched on Sunday, according to PixCams.

The eagle pair, Irvin and Stella, welcomed their first egg of the 2026 season on Feb. 20.

This is Irvin’s seventh season at the nest and the second season for Irvin and Stella as a couple. Sunday’s eaglet, named USS9, is the ninth hatched at the nest.

Stella laid the second egg on Feb. 23. She unexpectedly laid a third egg the night of Feb. 26, according to PixCams.

Bald eagles normally lay one to three eggs per year, with two being the most common. They hatch in about 35 days, and the eaglets fledge at about 12 weeks.

U.S. Steel partnered with PixCams to place four cameras around the nest. Stella is a play on “steel,” while Irvin is named after the facility.

The pair hatched and raised one eaglet, Ocho, in 2025.

Their nest cams can be viewed online here.

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