Mayor Greenberg and the Louisville Zoo are proud to announce a rare Steller’s sea eagle hatchling

Press Release

Guests can watch the nesting process via live webcam at louisvillezoo.org/stellercam

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and the Louisville Zoo are thrilled to share that the Zoo’s pair of Steller’s sea eagles are nesting with their new 7‑day‑old eaglet. Piotr (30) and Anastasia (8) hatched the chick on April 14, 2026.

This marks only the third Steller’s sea eagle hatchling in the Zoo’s 57‑year history; the first two chicks hatched in 2017. The Louisville Zoo has cared for Steller’s sea eagles for nearly 30 years.

“This is an extraordinary moment for our Louisville Zoo and an incredible opportunity for our community and the world beyond to follow along as our newest Zoo resident learns and grows,” said Mayor Greenberg, “You can literally take a peek inside the nest with our live cam, and it’s a powerful reminder of the important conservation work happening at our amazing Louisville Zoo.”

With only an estimated 5,000 individuals of this stunning species remaining in the wild and a declining population listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, these hatchlings will help raise awareness of the importance of protecting this magnificent raptor.

“This eaglet is significant to the Species Survival Plan as a whole. These birds are seldom successfully bred in human care,” said Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney. “The Louisville Zoo is one of only 17 North American Zoos to feature sea eagles and our pair are among just a few to successfully breed.  We are so excited to watch the pair nest with their chick and encourage the community to celebrate with us in viewing the new family on the Zoo’s web cam.”

A live webcam outside the eagle exhibit in Glacier Run allows guests to follow along as the parents’ nest and care for their chick. Guests can expect to see Piotr assisting Anastasia and the hatchling by helping with feedings and occasionally brooding the eaglet. Fans can also access the webcam at louisvillezoo.org/stellercam.

The Steller’s sea eagle exhibit features a five-story aviary that is also home to red‑breasted geese, azure‑winged magpies, and mandarin ducks.

About Steller’s sea eagles

Steller’s sea eagle’s wingspan can be 7.5 to 8 feet. They breed in eastern Russia, around the Sea of Okhotsk and on the Kamchatka Peninsula. A small number of birds remain in Kamchatka over the winter but the majority fly south to the Japanese Islands of Kuril and Hokkaido. This species is occasionally seen in China and in North and South Korea. Though usually solitary in the southern part of its range, it is more likely to congregate in numbers on salmon rivers. The sea eagle is listed as Vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

Zoo Hours

The Zoo is open daily year-round. Now through September 20, 2026, hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with guests exiting by 6 p.m.  The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Visit louisvillezoo.org for more information on hours and admission.

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The Louisville Zoo, the State Zoo of Kentucky, is the top, non-profit, paid attraction in the state. The Zoo is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) which is a global alliance of zoos and aquariums. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).