A bald eagle named Murphy, who has lived for many years at the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Missouri, unexpectedly “became a father” this spring—even though he initially cared for an ordinary rock.

In early March, the 31-year-old eagle, flightless due to a long-standing injury, experienced a powerful seasonal hormonal surge. Murphy built a neat nest right on the ground in his aviary and began fiercely guarding the “clutch,” refusing to let anyone approach. According to sanctuary director Dawn Griffard, no bird had ever demonstrated such a strong protective response.

However, all this dedication was directed at a rock that Murphy mistook for an egg. As Griffard explained, spring activity can cause birds to incubate any object that resembles an egg. Over time, the eaglet grew increasingly attached to its “baby” and even became aggressive, leading to its transfer to a separate enclosure. Staff hoped that its instincts would weaken as the season ended, and it would forget about the rock.

Meanwhile, in the parish of Sainte-Genevieve, an eaglet was found fallen from its nest after surviving a severe storm. The chick urgently needed a safe place. The reserve decided to try to foster Murphy, given his strong parental behavior.

To determine whether he would accept a live chick, staff removed the rock and placed the eaglet in the cage next to Murphy. The eaglet immediately showed interest: it responded to its squeaks, showed no aggression, and gradually calmed down. A week later, the barrier was removed. During feeding, Murphy didn’t keep all the fish for himself; he tore them apart and carefully fed the eaglet small pieces. The sanctuary regularly posts updates about the unusual couple on social media. Management is even considering auctioning off the famous “Murphy Rock” for charity.

If all goes well, the young eagle will be released back into the wild this summer. According to Griffard, Murphy will understand for himself when his role is over. In the meantime, he has the opportunity to experience true fatherhood—the very thing he so persistently sought, even when he was hatching a common rock.