| The American Bald Eagle was unofficially | | | | in hunting, incubating the eggs (34 to 35 |
| chosen as a National Symbol in 1872, when the | | | | days, usually hatching in late May or early |
| Constitution of the United States was | | | | June), monitoring the nest, and brooding |
| ratified. It was not officially nominated as | | | | feeding the eaglets until they are large |
| such until 1788. There was a heated debate, | | | | enough to fly and leave the nest. This |
| led by the great statesman Benjamin Franklin, | | | | occurs when the eaglets are about 12 weeks |
| about this bird becoming the National Bird. | | | | old. They develop special flight feathers, |
| Mr. Franklin wanted the turkey which he | | | | which make them look larger than their |
| thought better symbolized the clean, honest, | | | | parents, that serve as extra balance (sort of |
| and more straightforward ideals of the | | | | like training wheels on a bicycle) while they |
| American people. His bid was lost, however, | | | | learn to fly.Hatchlings are light grey when |
| in 1789 when George Washington became the | | | | born, and turn dark brown before leaving the |
| first President of the USA, and the Bald | | | | nest. Young adults have brown and white |
| Eagle was officially adopted as the "First | | | | mottled feathers beneath their wings until |
| Bird".The American Bald Eagle is the only | | | | they reach 5 years of age. At 5 years, the |
| eagle which is native to North America and | | | | head and tail feathers turn white. The |
| it's only on its native continent that one | | | | mature bird is not actually bald. "Bald", at |
| may find it. Alaska, the 49th State admitted | | | | one time, meant "white". Thus the name, |
| to the Union, is home to about 35,000 of the | | | | "bald eagle". Between the fourth and fifth |
| 70,000 total population. British Columbia | | | | years, the beak and eyes take on the |
| boasts about 20,000, and the rest | | | | distinctive yellow color. To see a mature |
| predominantly inhabit the Pacific coastline, | | | | Bald Eagle up close is awe-inspiring. To see |
| with a few scattered throughout the rest of | | | | one in flight is an experience to cherish for |
| the United States. Population is heaviest in | | | | a lifetime.Preservation EffortsIn spite of |
| the Pacific Northwest due, in part, to the | | | | the "National Symbols Act" and the "Bald and |
| large amount of salmon found there. Eagles | | | | Gold Eagle Preservation Act," which were both |
| depend greatly on fish as a main part of | | | | passed in 1940, the Bald Eagle population |
| their diets. They will eat small animals | | | | declined rapidly because farmers killed them |
| such as mice, rabbits, muskrats, duck and | | | | for fear of the harm that they could do to |
| snakes and they will resort to eating carrion | | | | their livestock. Hunters and poachers killed |
| (dead animals), if necessary. However, they | | | | them as trophies and for profit, and many |
| prefer that their food be of a fresh source | | | | were killed accidentally. This seriously |
| and they are partial to fish.While Bald Eagle | | | | alarmed preservationists. Therefore the |
| are capable of carrying their food in flight, | | | | American Bald Eagle was officially declared |
| they can actually only lift about half of | | | | an "Endangered Species" in 1947, under a law |
| their body weight. Although they can dive, | | | | which preceded the "Endangered Species Act" |
| catch fish in the water, and swim to shore | | | | of 1973. Until 1995, they were listed as |
| with them, they have also been known to drown | | | | endangered in 43 of the 48 contiguous United |
| if the fish is too big and they don't let go | | | | States. Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, |
| of it.The body length, for both males and | | | | Oregon, and Washington State listed them as |
| females, ranges between 29 and 42 inches | | | | "threatened". In 1995, the US Fish and |
| (73.66 to 106.68 centimeters). The male is | | | | Wildlife Service (USFWS) upgraded their |
| usually between 7 and 9 pounds (.497 to .639 | | | | status to threatened in the other 43 |
| stone) and has a wingspan which can exceed 6 | | | | states.In February of 2006 an announcement |
| feet (1.83 meters). The female is larger and | | | | was made that the USFWS had issued guidelines |
| can weigh up to 14 pounds (.99 stone). She | | | | on how the species should be protected by |
| can have a wingspan of up to 8 feet (2.44 | | | | landowners and others, once the bird is no |
| meters).In level flight, the Bald Eagle has | | | | longer listed as a threatened species. Those |
| been recorded at speeds up to 44 miles per | | | | guidelines include proposals for laws which |
| hour (70.1 kmp). It can dive (and has been | | | | prohibit disrupting the bird's breeding, |
| clocked) at speeds of 75 to 100 mph (120.68 | | | | sheltering, or feeding practices or |
| to 160.39 kmp). The eagle is capable of | | | | disturbing it in any manner which could cause |
| riding the thermal air currents in excess of | | | | injury, death, or nest abandonment. Should |
| 10000 feet (3048 meters) and can stay aloft | | | | those proposals be solidified and approved, |
| doing this for hours at a time.This species | | | | it could lead to the removal of the Bald |
| of bird mates for life, and will only seek | | | | Eagle from the "threatened" list.It should be |
| another mate if their "spouse" dies. They | | | | noted that even if the new guidelines are |
| build an "eyrie (also spelled aerie)" in | | | | approved, the American Bald Eagle is still |
| which they incubate their eggs and raise | | | | protected under the "Migratory Bird Treaty |
| their eaglets until those leave the nest at | | | | Act", the "Bald and Gold Eagle Preservation |
| 12 weekS. An eyrie, or nest, can be built in | | | | Act", and the "National Symbols Act". It is |
| the tops of giant trees (quite often aspens) | | | | illegal to possess, take, barter, trade, |
| or on a ledge of a mountain. The eagles | | | | sell, transport, import, or export eagles. |
| habitually add to their nests until they | | | | And it is illegal to collect eagles or their |
| reach up to 10 feet (2.54 meters) in | | | | body parts, nests, or eggs without a special |
| diameter. The eyries are lined with soft | | | | permit. Possession of a feather, or other |
| materials such as leaves, feathers, and moss | | | | body parts, is a felony which can carry a |
| to provide a suitable area for incubating the | | | | fine up to $10,000 USD and/or imprisonment |
| eggs once the female lays them.The eggs are | | | | and this is very strictly enforced. However, |
| usually laid at the end of April, following a | | | | federally recognized Native Americans are |
| fascinating "courtship dance" in early April, | | | | still permitted to possess those emblems |
| which the eagles perform in midair. They | | | | which are traditional to their culture.One |
| dive and climb, and look to be attacking | | | | can learn more about these magnificent, |
| (locking talons, or claws with) each other | | | | beautiful, and majestic birds and how to help |
| during this flight sequence.After the eggs | | | | with the continuing preservation efforts by |
| are laid, the male and the female take turns | | | | visiting the many websites devoted to them. |