Beloved bald eagle, who went viral for trying to hatch a rock, found dead after storms
VALLEY PARK, Mo. (KMOV/Gray News) – A beloved bald eagle at the World Bird Sanctuary near St. Louis died during Friday night’s severe storms.
The World Bird Sanctuary announced the death of Murphy, a bald eagle who gained social media stardom in 2023 after trying to hatch a rock.
Murphy was found dead in the sanctuary’s aviary on Saturday morning after storms came through the night before.
A veterinarian performed a full necropsy on the 33-year-old bald eagle and found he sustained trauma to his head. The World Bird Sanctuary said they are unable to determine if Murphy was spooked by something and hit his head or if wind and precipitation played a part in his injury.
The organization said they have contingency plans for different types of environmental situations, but Friday’s storms did not require bird evacuations because no tornadoes approached them.
“All of our birds in outdoor aviaries have access to shelters to protect themselves from storms and other weather,” the organization said.
The sanctuary said Murphy’s aviary did not have any damage and that the other three birds that shared the space with him were uninjured.
Murphy, who couldn’t fly, was a foster dad for eaglets. The World Bird Sanctuary said they are deg a new aviary specialized for eaglets and plan to name it “Murphy’s Manor” to honor their beloved bird.
“Murphy will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the memories of those who loved him,” the sanctuary said.
Murphy lived to be 33 years old, far suring the typical lifespan of 20-25 years for bald eagles.
“His resilience, spirit, and dedication as a foster dad touched the hearts of millions of people throughout the world, leaving an especially profound impact on those fortunate enough to have worked with him,” World Bird Sanctuary said.
The World Bird Sanctuary runs on donations. To help provide care for the animals, you can donate here.
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