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| The Straight Facts About Bald Eagles |
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Many people don't know that the bald eagle has been the symbol of the United States and the nation's national bird since 1782. Sea Eagles, so common in 18th century Europe, were a common sight to America's early settlers, and it is from mistaking the two birds that the bald eagle got its name. No European has ever seen a bald eagle, as they were native only to North America. 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. The bald eagle is the only 'sea eagle' that is a native of 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. Buildings and official seals have been emblazoned with the image of the bald eagle, as well as many U.S. coins and flags. These birds of prey are raptors, along with owls, hawks, vultures, 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. Bald eagles are enormous and intimidating birds, with adults growing to 32 inches in length, with wingspans to 7 feet, and weighing up to 16 pounds. In Alaska, the largest eagles can be found, while the smaller varieties live in Florida. 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. Bald eagle pairs live in a shared nest, keeping it closely guarded from harm. 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 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. Bald eagles keep the same mate for life, unlike most species of bird. Compared to the much shorter life spans of other birds, the bald eagle has a span of as many as 25 years. From Northern Mexico, all over the continental United States, and up into Alaska and Canada, the bald eagle resides in much of the continent. Though leaving the place they were hatched and flying long distances in search of ideal cool summer weather, the bald eagle usually returns to the area when it comes time to mate. 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. Despite the ever-present dangers that exist to young eagles, including disease, chemicals, harsh weather, and food shortages, almost 70% of baby eagles adapt and live past their first year. Did you know the government passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act to save the species in 1940? This law made it illegal for people to disturb or bother the birds. This also included taking bald eagles for reasons such as selling, trading, or transporting them, and also included their eggs and nests. To take the bald eagle means shooting at them, wounding or killing them, capturing or trapping them, or even disturbing them. The bald eagle began to die off due to pesticide overuse and DDT and other toxic chemicals. The bald eagle was given a chance to be saved by the many reintroduction programs and new laws that were enacted to help them. In those days, many people thought it might be too late to save the bald eagle as in neared extinction. 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 dramatic increase in the number of bald eagles, up from almost 500 pairs in 1963, to about 5,000 pairs in 1994, encouraged Congress to upgrade the species to threatened on August 11, 1995. 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. Watching these magnificent birds is a pleasure. The soaring eagle's flight appears to be in slow motion. It begins with the powerful bird's long and deliberate strides. 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 sure to see these magnificent animals for yourself as soon as possible. About AuthorRyan Richardo writes about bald eagle facts for OodlesOnBaldEagles.com.Source: ArticleTrader.com Read more at: http://www.articletrader.com/science/environment/the-straight-facts-about-bald-eagles.html. |
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