Bald Eagle Facts Help Conservationists Tackle Problems

The bald eagle is the United States of America's national symbol. While it was once endangered, better understanding of bald eagle facts have helped conservationists prevent it becoming extinct. Its taxonomic name is Haliaeetus leucocephalus, the latter word meaning 'white-headed'. The eagle is not bald but has white feathers on the head. The wedge-shaped tail is also white.

The plumage is brown. There are no feathers on the legs. The yellow beak is hooked and the bird has yellow irises. Females are larger than the males by about 25 percent. These massive birds have a wingspan of six to eight feet. A typical male is around 34 inches from head to tail. Large females may weigh up to fifteen pounds.

It is the only eagle native to the North American continent. In colder regions it may migrate during winter. Size and weight decrease from north to south of the continent so the birds in Canada and Alaska are larger than those in Mexico. These are apex predators. Besides catching fish and small mammals, they will scavenge or eat carrion.

It is one of the sea or fish eagles. Nests are usually constructed close to open bodies of fresh water such as coastal waters or inland lakes and rivers. Old, large trees are also important in the habitat both for nesting and as lookout perches. The life span in the wild is about twenty to thirty years but captive birds sometimes reach fifty years of age.

In flight, they reach speeds of 43 miles an hour and dive at 100 miles an hour. Heights of 10,000 feet are comfortable for them. Their main diet is fish but squirrels, rabbits and other small mammals are taken. Weights of four pounds can be lifted. Large fish are brought to shore by alternately swimming and gliding as the bird is a powerful swimmer.

During courtship, the birds will interlock their talons while free-falling. Eagles are monogamous and mate for life. Nests are made from interwoven sticks together with cornstalks, moss and other organic materials. They then line the nests with their own feathers. Two or three eggs are laid and the eggs are incubated and guarded by both birds until they hatch after about 35 days.

Once the chicks emerge, the eagles move about in the nest with their feet curled over to protect the chicks from their talons. The nest is used over and over again. It may be strengthened, patched and added to, eventually reaching a diameter of nine feet and weighing perhaps two tons. The young are fully grown after nine or ten weeks and they take their first flight about the same time. By the fourth month they are ready to leave the nest permanently. Sexual maturity is achieved between the third and fourth year.

Bald eagle numbers were being decimated before DDT was banned. The pesticide hampered the bird's metabolism, causing them to become sterile or to lay thin-shelled, brittle eggs. The bird was hunted mercilessly for many years. Pollution in the form of lead, mercury or oil, electrocution from collisions with power lines and in flight mishaps were other challenges faced by the birds. With increased knowledge of bald eagle facts, conservationists have been able to move the bird from the endangered list.


Knowledge Of Bald Eagle Facts Enable Conservationists To Save Birds

The bald eagle is an iconic symbol of America and the national bird of the United States of America. Instead of remaining endangered, better recognition of bald eagle facts has seen the bird increase in numbers. The latter part of its taxonomic name, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, means 'white-headed'. It is not actually bald but the feathers on the head are white as are those of the wedge-shaped tail.

It has brown plumage, a hooked, yellow beak and yellow irises. The legs are devoid of feathers. Males are only 75 percent the size of females and usually about 34 inches from head to tail. The wingspan ranges from six to eight feet. Females reach about fifteen pounds.

This is an apex predator and the only eagle native to North America. Birds situated in Canada and Alaska may migrate south during winter. Eagles from this area are larger and heavier than those found further to the south. While they will prey on fish and small mammals, they also scavenge and eat carrion.

Bald eagles are sea or fish eagles. They choose nest sites near inland lakes and rivers or along coastal waters. They also need established, large trees in which to construct their nests. The trees also provide lookout perches. Life expectancy in the wild is twenty to thirty years. In captivity, up to fifty years have been recorded.

They fly at speeds of up to 43 miles an hour but may reach 100 miles an hour when diving. They are often seen soaring at around 10,000 feet. While they feed principally on fish, small mammals such as rabbits and squirrels are also taken. They can lift prey weighing four pound or more. Should they catch a large fish, they bring it to shore by a combination of gliding and swimming.

During courtship the birds freefall. They lock talons and plummet towards the earth. The birds pair up for life. The framework of the nest is made of interwoven sticks. Moss, cornstalks and other organic material is added then the nest is lined with feathers. A clutch consists of two or three eggs. Both parents share incubation and guard duties. Incubation takes place after around 35 days.

To avoid harming the chicks, the adults ball their feet when walking in the nest. The same nest is used for subsequent hatchings. Sticks are added and the nest gradually grows to a diameter of perhaps nine feet. Depending on its age, a nest may weigh one or two tons. When almost fully grown at about nine weeks, the birds take their first flight. Around twelve weeks old, they will leave the nest and a few months later the chicks are able to fend for themselves. By the time they are three or four years old, they will be sexually mature and ready to find a mate.

Before DDT was banned, the chemical was the cause of many bald eagle deaths. Because it interfered with the metabolism of the birds, it caused either sterilization or the production of thin-shelled eggs. Hunting also accounted for many deaths. Oil, lead and mercury poisoning were other factors in the decline in the numbers of birds as was electrocution from power lines and in-flight collisions. With more information on bald eagle facts, conservationists can better protect these majestic creatures.


Additional Bald Eagle Facts Assist Conservationists To Ensure Its Survival

The national bird of the United States of America is the bald eagle. Thanks to conservationists becoming better acquainted with additional bald eagle facts, the bird is no longer endangered. Its scientific name is Haliaeetus leucocephalus. 'Leucociphalus' means 'white-headed'. The head is not bare but covered with white feathers. The tail is also white and wedge-shaped.

The rest of the feathering is brown. The yellow beak is strong and hooked. The irises are also yellow. The legs are bare of feathers. Males are only three-quarters the size of females. They have a length of about 34 inches. Females weigh up to fifteen pounds and the wingspan varies between six and eight feet.

It is North America's only native eagle and can be found from Alaska in the north to Mexico in the south. Those in Mexico are smaller and lighter than their northern cousins. Where the winters are very cold, these apex predators migrate south. They scavenge food and will also eat carrion. They also catch small mammals and fish.

Being fish or sea eagles, they like to nest close to open bodies of fresh water such as coastal waters or inland lakes or rivers. They also need large, old trees in their habitat both as lookout points and nest sites. In the wild, the bald eagle lives up to thirty years. Those in captivity usually live longer.

They cruise at around 35 miles an hour. When diving after prey, they can reach 100 miles an hour. They often soar at heights of 10,000 feet. While they prefer fish they also eat rabbits, squirrels and whatever other small mammals they can catch. They can lift up to about four pounds in weight. They are strong swimmers and will bring large fish to the bank by swimming and gliding.

When bald eagles court, part of the ritual is a free-fall towards earth with their talons locked. Pairs mate for life. They weave a nest from sticks and reinforce it with cornstalks, moss and other material. A feather lining is then added. The two or three eggs take about 35 days to hatch. The parents share duties, either sitting on the eggs or guarding the nest.

When moving about in the nest once the chicks have hatched, the birds curl their feet in a ball. The nest is added to over the years and may reach a diameter of eight or nine feet and a weight of several tons. The birds fledge at nine weeks, leave the nest at twelve and are self-sufficient at about sixteen to eighteen weeks. They will not be sexually mature until three or four years of age.

The bald eagle has faced a number of challenges. Before the use of DDT was banned, the pesticide was responsible for a severe decline in the bird's numbers. DDT interfered with the metabolism of calcium. Birds became sterile or laid thin-shelled eggs which broke easily. Illegal hunting has also had a severe impact over the years. Electrocution from power lines, in-flight collisions and pollution from oil, lead and mercury has also caused deaths. At the moment, the bald eagle is not endangered. With increased awareness of bald eagle facts, scientists have been able to devise ways to help stop the decline of these lovely birds.



