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Did you know that the bald eagle has symbolized America, as well as being its national bird, since 1782? Because the bald eagle is found only in North America, the European settlers had never seen one. There were no bald eagles in Europe, as the bald eagle is found only in North America. The bald eagle has the scientific name Haliaetus leucocephalus, meaning 'sea eagle with a white head' in Latin and Greek, and the birds are still known as sea eagles.
The bald eagle remains the only North American 'sea eagle.' The bald eagle has a striking appearance, with its dark brown feathers set off by the stark white feathers of its tail and head. The bald eagle's image has been used on many items over the years, including coins, flags, seals, and on buildings.
The bald eagle is a fierce bird of prey, along with other raptors, such as hawks, vultures, owls, and falcons. The bald eagle will eat carrion when there is no live prey, but mainly prefer to eat live animals such as rabbits, rodents, snakes, smaller birds, and especially fish and waterfowl.
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.
Alaska is home to the larger eagles, while the smaller ones make their homes in Florida. Even small bald eagles intimidate the other animals in the region, and they scatter whenever the mighty bird begins to land.
Bald eagles require a very large hunting ground, an area of 2 to 15 square miles per hunting pair. Each pair of bald eagles shares a nest, furiously guarding it from predators. Bald eagles living along the Indian River lagoon located on the Central Florida coast have been known to go after Ospreys who have themselves caught a meal. The eagle, unfussy about its meal, will eat the second hand catch when the Osprey drops it to get away from the pursuing eagle.
Although they are birds of prey, the bald eagle shows a tremendous instinct for family loyalty. Though most birds are not known for their monogamy, these birds mate for life. The bald eagle in the wild can live to be 25 years old, though most birds do not live to be this age. From Northern Mexico, all over the continental United States, and up into Alaska and Canada, the bald eagle resides in much of the continent.
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. In the springtime, the bald eagle can lay one to three eggs, each hatching in about 35 days. It takes about three months for the newly hatched baby eagles to begin flying, and another month before they fly away and live on their own. The bald eagle, despite the dangers of disease, hunger, bad weather, and toxic chemicals, still adapt to their environments and live into their second year 70% of the time.
Did you know the government passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act to save the species in 1940? The law prohibits anyone from disturbing or bothering bald eagles. The law also prohibited taking the animals, their eggs, or their nests, for any reason unless they have a permit. Taking an eagle included shooting at the birds, wounding them, trapping, capturing, disturbing them, or killing them in any manner.
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 seemed nearly impossible to save the species from extinction at the time.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 allowed species that were small in numbers to be classified as threatened, and species with very low populations to be classified as endangered. In the early 1990s, the rapidly increasing numbers of bald eagles made it possible for the species to be taken off the endangered species lists in most states.
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. With the increasing population of the bald eagle, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service will soon take the bird off the endangered species list.
Watching these magnificent birds is a pleasure. The bald eagle takes long strides, each deliberate and powerful as it launches into its slow-motion soaring flight. The prize remains in its sight as it keeps steady on its path. 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.
OodlesOnBaldEagles.com provides interesting bald eagle facts as well as american bald eagle statues and other bald eagle shopping such as the Patriotic Eagle Windchime.
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