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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. No European has ever seen a bald eagle, as they were native only to North America. They had never seen a bald eagle in Europe because the American bald Eagle is unique to North America. The bald eagle has the scientific name Haliaetus leucocephalus, meaning 'sea eagle with a white head' in Latin and Greek, and the birds are still known as sea eagles.

North America is the home of only one variety of 'sea eagle'- the bald eagle. It's hard to mistake the bald eagle for any other type of bird, with its striking white head, its deep brown body and its stark white tail. Many items, such as U.S. coins, flags, seals, and even buildings, have used the bald eagle's image as a symbol of the nation.

The bald eagle is a fierce bird of prey, along with other raptors, such as hawks, vultures, owls, 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. Alaska is home to the larger eagles, while the smaller ones make their homes in Florida. Wherever the bald eagle lives, the animals in the region scatter when the bird begins to land.

Bald eagles need plenty of space for hunting, requiring 2 to 15 square miles of hunting ground for every 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 usually drops its hard-won catch in order to escape the powerful eagle, and the eagle, not at all fussy about its meals, will then eat it.

Although they are birds of prey, the bald eagle shows a tremendous instinct for family loyalty. The bald eagle stays with its mate for life, though few other birds follow this behavior. The bald eagle in the wild can live to be 25 years old, though most birds do not live to be this age. The bald eagle can be found in many areas of North America, from Alaska, to Mexico, and all over the continental United States and Canada.

Bald eagles travel far each year in search of cooler weather in the hot summer months, then go back to the area where they hatched, usually mating within a few hundred miles of the area. In the springtime, the bald eagle can lay one to three eggs, each hatching in about 35 days. The baby eagles live in the nest during the first three months, and then learn to fly for a month before leaving and beginning their own lives. 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 that to save the species in 1940 the United States Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act? The Act protected bald eagles by making it illegal for anyone to bother or disturb these birds. It also protected them by making it illegal to take the birds or their nests or eggs, in order to buy, sell, trade, own, import or export them. Take includes not just capturing or trapping the bald eagle, but also bothering them, shooting at them, and wounding or killing them.

Large numbers of bald eagles died because of DTT, the overuse of pesticides, and other toxic chemicals. Reintroduction programs, some federally funded and some private, as well as new laws have given the bald eagle a chance to return in numbers. The bald eagle was so near to extinction that many thought it impossible to save the species.

For species with small populations, and those with very few animals left, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 allowed the legal classifications of endangered or threatened. In the early 1990s, the rapidly increasing numbers of bald eagles made it possible for the species to be taken off the endangered species lists in most states.

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. Because the number of bald eagles has increased, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has made pans for removing the bird from the list of endangered species.

To observe the bald eagle is a pleasurable experience. The bald eagle takes off with strides that are powerful and purposeful. The eagle soars as if in slow motion. The eagle remains determined, keeping a fixed eye on its prize. The skies of North America are increasingly filled with the majestic bald eagle. Take any opportunity to see these magnificent animals.

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