National Conservation Training Center

06/17/2026

First Fledge – June 15, 2026!

On a breezy afternoon at 2:37 pm, the first of the two juvenile eagles fledged from the NCTC nest!

This eaglet hatched on March 27 and was 11 weeks & 3 days old on fledge day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwJcA-Oq1Ys

Bald eaglets grow amazingly fast – just 80 days from hatch to full size adult! The young eaglet spent the first night in a nearby tree and returned to the nest the next morning.

It’s always fun to watch the young birds take off for the first time – the second juvenile is now 78 days old, so we hope to see his fledge in the next few days. You can watch the live action at: https://www.outdoorchannel.com/live/eaglecam

Please join the NCTC on Thursday June 18, at 2:00 pm ET for “Live from the Eagle’s Nest". We’ll catch up on the latest nest action and answer your questions too. Anyone interested in bald eagles is welcome to join us on USFWS YouTube. https://www.youtube.com//streams

Photos & video USFWS / NCTC Eaglecam – Tangel & Deb Stecyk

Susie fledges, Congratulations Susie at 11.42 weeks of age with min...

06/15/2026

Friday, June 12 was a tough morning for this 11-week-old juvenile bald eagle at the NCTC nest. The treble hook fishing lure shown in these photos was caught on his talon with another hook caught on a nest stick. Fortunately, after about 45 mins of pulling with his beak, he was able to get the hook released and the young bird appears to be ok. The lure remains in the nest, but we will keep a close eye on the two juveniles. They will soon be ready to leave the nest on their own or “fledge” between 11-12 weeks of age.

In this case, human intervention has the potential to do more harm than good. The young eagles could be scared off the nest and injured, as they are not yet strong enough to fly. Fortunately, with this lure and hook released from the talon there is no immediate threat, and we will remove the lure when the eagles leave the nest. As of June 15, the lure remains partially covered in the nest with the hooks down. NCTC will continue to closely monitor the nest, and we hope to see both juvenile eagles fledge soon!

Human trash can be lethal for wildlife. Fishing lines and hooks are especially dangerous and kill many birds each year. Let’s help our National Bird and all wildlife by “cleaning up our act”.

If you see fishing line or other trash, please pick it up and dispose of it safely.
Thanks for the helping hand!

06/11/2026

Branching Out!

At 10.5 weeks of age, the NCTC eaglets are getting stronger every day. We may soon see their first “branching” i.e. jumping onto a nearby branch, outside the nest. Their first flight or “fledge” from the nest, usually happens around 11 -12 weeks. Branching is “baby steps” on their way to the fledge. We often see them vigorously flapping their wings and hopping about the nest. This strengthens their flight muscles and gives them the feel of the wind under their six-foot wingspan.

Photos & video USFWS / NCTC Eaglecam – Tangel & Deb Stecyk

06/10/2026

Turtles have been roaming the Earth for over 220 million years, since the age of dinosaurs! They hold cultural significance for many societies and play important roles in the environment, with some plant species even depending on them for habitat and seed dispersal.

The U.S. is a global hotspot for turtle biodiversity, home to more than 60 known terrestrial and freshwater species. Many found nowhere else on Earth. Yet these ancient animals face growing threats: habitat loss, disease, vehicle strikes, and illegal collection activities.

Here’s how YOU can help:
• Help a turtle cross the road – always in the direction it’s heading
• Don’t post location info for turtles or their nests online
• Report suspicious or illegal turtle collection activities
• Stay alert for turtles on roads, especially during nesting season

Photo of a bog turtle hatchling next to a penny for size comparison. Credit: Leslie Pitt/USFWS.

06/10/2026

Join us on Thursday, June 25 at 7:00 PM for a special evening with author Andrew Moore, presenting his new book: "The Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America's Eastern Wilderness"​​

Before skyscrapers and suburbs, eastern America was home to elk, bison, wolves, and cougars. Industrialization nearly wiped them out — but they're making a comeback. Bison on Illinois prairies. Red wolves in North Carolina marshes. Thousands of elk in Kentucky coal country. Andrew Moore takes us on the journey to understand how, and what it means for the future of eastern ecosystems.​​

Moore is also the author of Pawpaw: In Search of America's Forgotten Fruit (a James Beard Foundation Book Award finalist), and his writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and more.​​

📍 National Conservation Training Center — Byrd Auditorium 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, WV 🕖 Doors open at 6:30 PM | Program begins at 7:00 PM​

🎟️ FREE and open to the public! Registration Required!​

To register, email [email protected] with the program date in the subject line, and ALL the names of attending adults in the body of your message.​​

Can't make it in person? The lecture will be recorded and available online July 1, 2026 at youtube.com//streams

06/09/2026

TRivia: Fun Facts About Theodore Roosevelt.

Theodore Roosevelt started what became the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wildlife Refuge System. Between 1903 and 1909 TR created 51 Bird Reservations and 4 National Game Preserves.
The full list is:
1. Pelican Island (Florida)
2. Breton Island (Louisiana)
3. Stump Lake (N. Dakota)
4. Siskiwit Islands (Michigan)
5. Huron Islands (Michigan)
6. Passage Key (Florida)
7. Indian Key (Florida)
8. Tern Islands (Louisiana)
9. Shell Keys (Louisiana)
10. Three Arch Rocks (Oregon)
11. Flattery Rocks (Washington)
12. Copalis Rock (Washington)
13. Quillayute Needles (Washington)
14. East Tirnbalier Island (Louisiana)
15. Mosquito Inlet (Florida)
16. Tortugas Keys (Florida)
17. Key West (Florida)
18. Klamath Lake (Oregon and California)
19. Lake Malheur (Oregon)
20. Chase Lake (North Dakota)
21. Pine Island (Florida)
22. Matlacha Pass (Florida)
23. Palma Sole (Florida)
24. Island Bay (Florida)
25. Loch-Katrine (Wyoming)
26. Hawaiian Islands
27. Salt River (Arizona)
28. East Park (California)
29. Deer Flat (Idaho)
30. Willow Creek (Montana)
31. Carlsbad (New Mexico)
32. Rio Grande (New Mexico) mation.
33. Cold Springs (Oregon)
34. Belle Fourche (South Dakota)
35. Strawberry Valley (Utah)
36. Keechelus (Washington)
37. Kachess (Washington)
38. Clealum (Washington)
39. Bumping Lake (Washington)
40. Conconuily (Washington)
41. Pathfinder (Wyoming)
42. Shoshone (Wyoming)
43. Minidoka (Idaho)
44. Tuxedni (Alaska)
45. Saint Lazaria (Alaska)
46. Yukon Delta (Alaska)
47. Culebra (Puerto Rico)
48. Farallon (California)
49. Behring (Bering) Sea (Alaska)
50. Pribilof (Alaska)
51. Bogoslof (Alaska)
52. Wichita Game Preserve (Oklahoma
53. Grand Canyon National Game Preserve (Arizona)
54. Fire Island National Game Preserve (Alaska)
55. National Bison Range (Montana)



Image: Theodore Roosevelt on Breton Island Bird Reservation (est. 1904).

06/08/2026

06/04/2026

June 4, 1942, marked a pivotal moment in American history.

On this day, the Battle of Midway began—an intense and heroic engagement that became the turning point of World War II in the Pacific. Though outnumbered and outgunned, American forces at Midway Island withstood the initial Japanese assault and ultimately forced a retreat, sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers and altering the course of the war.

While much of the fighting occurred 100–200 miles north of the atoll, fierce aerial combat raged directly overhead. Thirty-one aircraft crash sites—22 American and 9 Japanese—have been identified, and today they are honored as war graves. In recognition of its historical significance, Midway Atoll has been designated a National Memorial to the Battle of Midway.

But Midway’s story doesn’t end with war—it continues as a beacon of conservation. Now part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is a thriving sanctuary. It is home to the world’s largest colony of Laysan albatrosses, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, and hundreds of other species that depend on its remote, protected habitat.

Photo of American flags at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway Memorial. Credit: USFWS

06/02/2026

At just 9 weeks of age, the NCTC eaglets are into their juvenile phase. They are nearly adult size but still a few weeks from their first flight or ‘fledge’ from the nest, usually at 11 -12 weeks. On breezy days they can often be seen exercising their wings and hopping about the nest. This ‘play’ helps strengthen their flight muscles and gives them the feel of the wind under their powerful wings.

Heavy rainfall last week caused the Potomac River to be high and muddy over the last few days. This makes it difficult for adult eagles to catch fish. Meals were slim, but with the river clearing, the last two days have seen plenty of food brought back to the nest.

Photo: USFWS / NCTC Eaglecam – Deb Stecyk, BE101

06/01/2026

Raise your hand if you've never actually read Silent Spring ✋.

Now is your chance to revisit (or experience for the first time) the classic that was once controversial. This June, join us in reading Silent Spring by Rachel Carson as a part of the 250 Years of America’s Best Nature Writing Book Club.

Rachel Carson faced intense scrutiny and backlash after publishing Silent Spring in 1962. Despite attacks on her and her credentials, her message, both scientifically sound and eloquently delivered, overcame criticism to inspire a shift in public attitudes about pesticides and led to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency. Learn what everyone was talking about 64 years ago and why Silent Spring's legacy still continues today.

Photo credit: Rachel Carson 1907-1964, Una Hanbury, 1965/Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery