Missouri lost a beloved ambassador, role model, and community pillar in the severe storms that struck the nation on March 15th: Murphy, a 33-year-old bald eagle.

Murphy’s charm extended far beyond the Midwest, capturing hearts nationwide in 2023 when he endearingly attempted to hatch a rock. Giving into this, the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Missouri, where Murphy resided, honoured his fatherly instincts by providing him with an eaglet to nurture back to health. A second eaglet was also placed under his care, set for release mid-summer.

“He’s not just the stepdad, he’s the dad who stepped up,” as one Reddit user poignantly put it in a post just prior to Murphy’s passing.

Sanctuary officials suspect that the harsh storms in Missouri, Kentucky, and Alabama contributed to Murphy’s death. A full necropsy by a veterinarian revealed Murphy suffered some form of head trauma.

The average lifespan of a bald eagle is 20-25 years, and Murphy exceeded that mark. The sanctuary celebrated his “resilience, spirit, and dedication as a foster dad” in a heartfelt statement following his demise.

In December 2024, the bald eagle was officially recognized as the national bird of the US, a bill passed by Congress and signed by Joe Biden, giving the bird an official status it had unofficially held since 1782.

“For nearly 250 years, we referred to the Bald Eagle as our national bird when it wasn’t officially,” stated Jack Davis, Co-Chair of the National Bird Initiative. “Now, the title is official, and no bird is more deserving,” he added.

Murphy might well be seen as the embodiment of what a bald eagle, the national bird of the US, stands for.

To honour his legacy, the sanctuary plans to name a future eagle fostering aviary Murphy’s Manor, ensuring his memory endures for generations.