Eagle watchers, rest assured. The D.C. area’s longest-lasting bald eagle couple, Liberty and Justice, are officially back together.
On Saturday afternoon, the two love birds were seen mating for the first time since Justice left their nest near the Anacostia River unexpectedly for 18 days, according to the Earth’s Conservation Corps’ live camera feed.
Justice suddenly reappeared at the nest on Wednesday, much to the frustration of Liberty, who was in the middle of eating her breakfast when he landed in the nest they used to share. Despite her initial squawks of disapproval, the two managed to rekindle and were seen together in the nest on Friday.
For the first two weeks of Justice’s absence, Liberty seemed to have been holding out on his return. The typically monogamous animals usually only mate with one partner their whole lives.
However, when it seemed Justice wasn’t going to return, she sought out new suiters. A new eagle named M2 seemed to catch her eye, but her past with Justice trumped the new fling.
Despite getting back together, Liberty decidedly abandoned the two eggs she laid before Justice disappeared. Bald eagles are only fertile for two weeks of each year, so Liberty’s window for new eggs this year has likely closed. The two will end this mating season with an empty nest.
