Did you know that the United States adopted the bald eagle as the national bird and symbol of the nation in 1782? They had never seen a bald eagle in Europe because the American bald Eagle is unique to North America. Because the bald eagle is found only in North America, the European settlers had never seen one. The bald eagle is still called the sea eagle, as evidenced by its scientific name, Haliaetus leucocephalus, meaning 'sea eagle with a white head.'
North America is the home of only one variety of 'sea eagle'- the bald eagle. Its appearance is unmistakable by its white head and white tail set against the backdrop of its beautiful, plush, deep chocolate-colored body. Many items, such as U.S. coins, flags, seals, and even buildings, have used the bald eagle's image as a symbol of the nation.
The bald eagle is a fierce bird of prey, along with other raptors, such as hawks, vultures, owls, and falcons. Bald eagles live mainly on a diet of waterfowl and fish, but may also eat animals such as snakes, rodents, birds, and rabbits, and when these live specimens are not available they may also eat carrion. Few animals dare stand in the way of the bald eagle, who can reach an adult size of 16 pounds, with wingspans of 7.5 feet and lengths of 32 inches. Florida is the home of the smaller bald eagles, and Alaska is home to the larger ones. The bald eagle is known to other animals as a fierce predator in whatever region it is found.
Bald eagles require a very large hunting ground, an area of 2 to 15 square miles per hunting pair. The fiercely guarded nest of the bald eagle is often the home for a pair of eagles. Bald eagles have been observed in some instances, such as along the Indian River lagoon in Central Florida, chasing down Ospreys with fresh catches. The Osprey will drop its mullet to evade the chasing eagle, and the eagle then has a fresh meal.
These powerful birds of prey retain a strong instinct toward family loyalty. Though most birds are not known for their monogamy, these birds mate for life. Most birds live only a few years, but the bald eagle in the wild can live to be as old as 25. 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.
Bald eagles travel far each year in search of cooler weather in the hot summer months, then go back to the area where they hatched, usually mating within a few hundred miles of the area. In the spring, one to three eggs can be laid by the breeding bald eagle, which then hatch after about 35 days. 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 that the U.S. Congress tried to help the species by passing the Bald Eagle Protection Act in 1940? When this law passed, it became illegal to bother or disturb the birds. It also became illegal to take the birds, their nests, or their eggs for any purpose, such as selling, trading, owning, or exporting them. Taking the bald eagle includes killing or wounding the birds, as well as shooting at them, capturing them, or 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. New laws and reintroduction programs for the bald eagle have given the birds a chance to survive. It was believes at the time that the species might have no road back from extinction.
In 1973, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act, enabling low and very low population animals to have a legal classification of threatened or endangered. The bald eagle was on most state's endangered species lists until the early 1990s, when the increasing numbers of the bird enabled its removal from the lists.
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. As the number of bald eagles increase, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has plans to remove the bird from the endangered species list altogether.
Watching these magnificent birds is a pleasure. The bald eagle takes off with strides that are powerful and purposeful. The eagle soars as if in slow motion. The eagle stays fixed on its path, the prize kept firmly in sight. The skies of North America are increasingly filled with the majestic bald eagle. Make sure to see these magnificent animals for yourself as soon as possible.
OodlesOnBaldEagles.com provides interesting bald eagle facts as well as american bald eagle statues and other bald eagle shopping such as the Eagle Flags Mirror.