Bald Eagle Fact
There is but one Bald Eagle fact that proves the bird’s unsurpassed beauty and majesty, and that is its recognition in the USA as a national symbol. The bird was accepted as a national emblem on June 20, 1782. There is an opinion that during one of the first battles of the Revolution, a group of Eagles, disturbed by the shouting, shooting and cannonade, was hovering over the battlefield, and there was something highly symbolic and superstitious about this behavior that ennobled this free-spirited creature. Today, the image of the American Bald Eagle can be found on coinage, paper money and official seals, including the Great Seal.
There are lots of fascinating Bald Eagle Facts that arouse interest of many bird lovers toward this large and majestic bird. Eagles appreciate freedom, and they tend to stay safely away from people, who have done much more damage to the Bald Eagle population than all other animals on earth together. There was a period in the twentieth century, when this grand bird was tottering on the brink of extinction due to shooting, trapping, electrocution and poisoning. Intensive use of pesticides has impacted the bird’s reproduction rate, resulting in poor development of eggs and high infant mortality among Eagles. In 1967, the Bald Eagle was listed as endangered, and any commercial activities involving Eagles, as well as Eagle hunting were prohibited. The ban on the use of DDT has also helped rehabilitate the Bald Eagle, contributing to the increase in numbers from only several hundreds of wild species in the 1960s to about 100,000 species in the 1990s.
American Bald Eagles are large birds of prey, and they feed on fish, small birds and waterfowl, small and medium-sized ground animals and reptiles. These Eagles are smaller than Golden Eagles. Their range covers most North America, ranging from northern Mexico to Alaska. The British Columbia of Canada and Alaska are their main strongholds today. There are about 40,000 species in Alaska, and 25,000-30,000 in British Columbia. The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), is a sizable raptor, measuring 28-35 inches in length, wingspan sometimes reaching 8 feet, and weight ranging between 7 and 17 lbs. Bald Eagles have blackish-brown plumage on the sides, back and belly, and they have white heads and tails. One interesting American Bald Eagle fact is that it is not until it is 5 years old (age of puberty) that he obtains this color. Young Bald Eagles are totally brown, and are often mistaken for Golden Eagles.
American Bald Eagles mate seasonally, and mating time depends on the region. In the south, they mate from August through November, while in the North mating season begins in March and continues through April. Eagles build nests in areas secured from the outer world by tree groves or rocks, and they choose areas where food is readily available. Bald Eagles lay 1-3 eggs, within several days. They hatch on different days, and there is always a difference in size and strength between the chicks. More often than not, the stronger chick kills the weaker one. Bald Eagles are monogamous. However, if one mate dies or gets killed, the other does not hesitate to find a new mate. This is yet another interesting Bald Eagle Fact.
