Did you know that the United States adopted the bald eagle as the national bird and symbol of the nation in 1782? Because the
bald eagle is found only in North America, the European settlers had never seen one. The bald eagle is native to North America, making it a new sight for the Europeans. The scientific name of the bald eagle is Haliaetus leucocephalus, which actually translates from Latin and Greek into 'sea eagle with a white head.' We still call them sea eagles to this day.
Of the 'sea eagle' species, the bald eagle is the only one that is native to North America. The bald eagle is immediately obvious by its smooth, white head and white tail, contrasted by the deep brown feathers of its body. Coins, flags, buildings, and seals in the United States have used the image of the bald eagle to symbolize the country.
The bald eagle is a fierce bird of prey, along with other raptors, such as hawks, vultures, owls, and falcons. The bald eagle lives on a diet of live prey, such as waterfowl and fish, as well as rodents, snakes, rabbits, and birds, but they will eat carrion when there is no live prey to be eaten.
The enormous adult bald eagle, with wingspans up to 7.5 feet, weighing up to 16 pounds, and with a length of up to 32 pounds, is a worthy adversary for any animal.
The largest eagles live in Alaska, and the smaller eagles can be found in Florida. The bald eagle is known to other animals as a fierce predator in whatever region it is found.
An area 2 to 15 miles square is the area needed for a pair of bald eagles to hunt in. Bald eagle pairs live in a shared nest, keeping it closely guarded from harm. On the eastern cost of Central Florida, the bald eagle may chase an Osprey along the Indian River lagoon in order to steal its catch. The eagle, unfussy about its meal, will eat the second hand catch when the Osprey drops it to get away from the pursuing eagle.
Bald eagles have a strong loyalty for their families, though they are actually birds of prey. The bald eagle stays with its mate for life, though few other birds follow this behavior. Compared to the much shorter life spans of other birds, the bald eagle has a span of as many as 25 years. The bald eagle can be found in many areas of North America, from Alaska, to Mexico, and all over the continental United States and Canada.
The bald eagle travels frequently, flying to northern climates to escape hot summers, the birds usually return close to the place where they were hatched in order to begin families of their own. Breeding bald eagles lay one to three eggs in the spring, which hatch about 35 days later. After three months in the nest, the baby bald eagles begin to fly, and a month later fly away from their mother for good. The dangers of hunger, disease, harsh weather, and toxic chemicals can all make life hard for baby eagles, but almost 70% manage to adapt and survive for at least a year.
Did you know the government passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act to save the species in 1940? The Act protected bald eagles by making it illegal for anyone to bother or disturb these birds. It also protected them by making it illegal to take the birds or their nests or eggs, in order to buy, sell, trade, own, import or export them. To take the bald eagle means shooting at them, wounding or killing them, capturing or trapping them, or even disturbing them.
The overuse of pesticides commercially and residentially, as well as the use of DDT and other harmful chemicals, led to the steep decline of bald eagles. Reintroduction programs, some federally funded and some private, as well as new laws have given the bald eagle a chance to return in numbers. The bald eagle was so near to extinction that many thought it impossible to save the species.
Animals with very low populations could be legally classified as threatened by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the species with the lowest numbers could be classified as being endangered. The dramatic return of the bald eagle population removed it from most endangered species lists in the early 1990s.
The bald eagle was reclassified by Congress as threatened on August 11, 1995, after its numbers grew from 500 pairs in 1963 to 5,000 pairs in 1994. The bald eagle will soon by removed from the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, due to the increasing population of these birds.
To observe the bald eagle is a pleasurable experience. The long strides of the bald eagle as it launches leads into the soaring, slow motion movement of the bird in flight. The eagle remains determined, keeping a fixed eye on its prize. From one end of the continent to the other, the majestic presence of the bald eagle is increasing. Make the time to see these wonderful animals for yourself.
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