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In 1782 the bald eagle was chosen to represent the United States and has remained its national bird ever since. The bald eagle is native to North America, making it a new sight for the Europeans. There were no bald eagles in Europe, as the bald eagle is found only in 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 only so-called 'sea eagle' in North America is the bald eagle. Its appearance is unmistakable by its white head and white tail set against the backdrop of its beautiful, plush, deep chocolate-colored body. Coins, flags, buildings, and seals in the United States have used the image of the bald eagle to symbolize the country.

The powerful bald eagle is a type of raptor, as are hawks, vultures, falcons, and owls. The bald eagle eats mainly waterfowl, such as geese and ducks, and fish, but also may indulge in small birds, rodents, snakes, rabbits, and even carrion when live prey is not available 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. The largest eagles live in Alaska, and the smaller eagles can be found 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. The fiercely guarded nest of the bald eagle is often the home for a pair of eagles. On the eastern cost of Central Florida, the bald eagle may chase an Osprey along the Indian River lagoon in order to steal its catch. 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. This species chooses its mate for life, unlike most birds. Though most birds live a much shorter time, the bald eagle can live for as many as 25 years. They live across North America, from the north, including Canada and Alaska, across the middle expanses of the U.S., and south into the northern part of Mexico.

Even though these great travelers fly long distances to summer in the cooler weather of the northern United States and Canada, when it comes time to mate, they generally retrace their paths and nest within just a hundred or two miles from where they were hatched. Breeding bald eagles lay one to three eggs in the spring, which hatch about 35 days later. It takes about three months for the babies to start flying, and after the fourth month, they fly away from the nest to strike out for themselves. The bald eagle, despite the dangers of disease, hunger, bad weather, and toxic chemicals, still adapt to their environments and live into their second year 70% of the time.

Did you know that the U.S. Congress tried to help the species by passing the Bald Eagle Protection Act in 1940? When this law passed, it became illegal to bother or disturb the birds. It also became illegal to take the birds, their nests, or their eggs for any purpose, such as selling, trading, owning, or exporting them. Taking an eagle included shooting at the birds, wounding them, trapping, capturing, disturbing them, or killing them in any manner.

The overuse of pesticides commercially and residentially, as well as the use of DDT and other harmful chemicals, led to the steep decline of bald eagles. The bald eagle was given a chance to be saved by the many reintroduction programs and new laws that were enacted to help them. It was believes at the time that the species might have no road back from extinction.

In 1973, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act, enabling low and very low population animals to have a legal classification of threatened or 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. With the increasing population of the bald eagle, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service will soon take the bird off the endangered species list.

The bald eagle is a pleasure to watch. The bald eagle takes long strides, each deliberate and powerful as it launches into its slow-motion soaring flight. The prize remains in its sight as it keeps steady on its path. 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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