| Did you know that the United States adopted | | | | The bald eagle travels frequently, flying to |
| the bald eagle as the national bird and | | | | northern climates to escape hot summers, the |
| symbol of the nation in 1782? European | | | | birds usually return close to the place where |
| settlers in America, used to the sight of the | | | | they were hatched in order to begin families |
| Sea Eagle in Europe, named the bald eagle, | | | | of their own. Breeding bald eagles lay one to |
| believing the two birds were the same. There | | | | three eggs in the spring, which hatch about |
| were no bald eagles in Europe, as the bald | | | | 35 days later. The baby eagles live in the |
| eagle is found only in North America. The | | | | nest during the first three months, and then |
| scientific name of the bald eagle is | | | | learn to fly for a month before leaving and |
| Haliaetus leucocephalus, which actually | | | | beginning their own lives. The bald eagle, |
| translates from Latin and Greek into 'sea | | | | despite the dangers of disease, hunger, bad |
| eagle with a white head.' We still call them | | | | weather, and toxic chemicals, still adapt to |
| sea eagles to this day. | | | | their environments and live into their second |
| | | | year 70% of the time. |
| The bald eagle is the only 'sea eagle' that | | | | |
| is a native of North America. There is no | | | | Did you know that the U.S. Congress tried to |
| mistaking the bald eagle, with its deep brown | | | | help the species by passing the Bald Eagle |
| feathers and contrasting white head and tail. | | | | Protection Act in 1940? The law prohibits |
| Coins, flags, buildings, and seals in the | | | | anyone from disturbing or bothering bald |
| United States have used the image of the bald | | | | eagles. The law also prohibited taking the |
| eagle to symbolize the country. | | | | animals, their eggs, or their nests, for any |
| | | | reason unless they have a permit. Take |
| These birds of prey are raptors, along with | | | | includes not just capturing or trapping the |
| owls, hawks, vultures, and falcons. The bald | | | | bald eagle, but also bothering them, shooting |
| eagle eats mainly waterfowl, such as geese | | | | at them, and wounding or killing them. |
| and ducks, and fish, but also may indulge in | | | | |
| small birds, rodents, snakes, rabbits, and | | | | The overuse of pesticides commercially and |
| even carrion when live prey is not available | | | | residentially, as well as the use of DDT and |
| | | | other harmful chemicals, led to the steep |
| Bald eagles are enormous and intimidating | | | | decline of bald eagles. Reintroduction |
| birds, with adults growing to 32 inches in | | | | programs, some federally funded and some |
| length, with wingspans to 7 feet, and | | | | private, as well as new laws have given the |
| weighing up to 16 pounds. | | | | bald eagle a chance to return in numbers. It |
| | | | seemed nearly impossible to save the species |
| Alaska is home to the larger eagles, while | | | | from extinction at the time. |
| the smaller ones make their homes in Florida. | | | | |
| Wherever they are, when animals see the bald | | | | For species with small populations, and those |
| eagle descending, they know to scatter. | | | | with very few animals left, the Endangered |
| | | | Species Act of 1973 allowed the legal |
| An area 2 to 15 miles square is the area | | | | classifications of endangered or threatened. |
| needed for a pair of bald eagles to hunt in. | | | | The dramatic return of the bald eagle |
| Each pair of bald eagles shares a nest, | | | | population removed it from most endangered |
| furiously guarding it from predators. Bald | | | | species lists in the early 1990s. |
| eagles living along the Indian River lagoon | | | | |
| located on the Central Florida coast have | | | | The dramatic increase in the number of bald |
| been known to go after Ospreys who have | | | | eagles, up from almost 500 pairs in 1963, to |
| themselves caught a meal. The Osprey usually | | | | about 5,000 pairs in 1994, encouraged |
| drops its hard-won catch in order to escape | | | | Congress to upgrade the species to threatened |
| the powerful eagle, and the eagle, not at all | | | | on August 11, 1995. As the number of bald |
| fussy about its meals, will then eat it. | | | | eagles increase, U.S. Fish and Wildlife |
| | | | Service has plans to remove the bird from the |
| Although they are birds of prey, the bald | | | | endangered species list altogether. |
| eagle shows a tremendous instinct for family | | | | |
| loyalty. This species chooses its mate for | | | | The bald eagle is a pleasure to watch. The |
| life, unlike most birds. The bald eagle in | | | | bald eagle takes off with strides that are |
| the wild can live to be 25 years old, though | | | | powerful and purposeful. The eagle soars as |
| most birds do not live to be this age. They | | | | if in slow motion. The eagle stays fixed on |
| live across North America, from the north, | | | | its path, the prize kept firmly in sight. The |
| including Canada and Alaska, across the | | | | number of majestic bald eagles is steadily |
| middle expanses of the U.S., and south into | | | | increasing all over North America. Take any |
| the northern part of Mexico. | | | | opportunity to see these magnificent animals. |
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