Bald Eagle

Table of Contents

1. Bald Eagle an Introduction
2. Bald Eagle Nests
3. Diet
4. National bird of the U.S.
5. Bald Eagle References
6. Bird Identification Sheet
7. Books about the Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle an Introduction

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), also known as the American Eagle, is a bird of prey found in North America, most recognizable as the national bird of the United States.

The species was on the brink of extinction in the USA late in the 20th century, but now has a stable population and is in the process of being removed from the U.S. federal government's list of endangered species.

Once a common sight in much of the continent, the Bald Eagle was severely affected by the use of the pesticide DDT in the mid-twentieth century. While the pesticide itself was not lethal to the bird, its exposure would either make an eagle sterile or inhibit its ability to lay healthy eggs: the eagle would ingest the chemical through its food and then lay eggs that were too brittle to withstand the weight of a brooding adult. By the 1960's there were fewer than 500 nesting pairs in the 48 states of the USA. Currently it is still slowly but steadily recovering its numbers; it can be found in growing concentrations throughout the United States and Canada, particularly near large bodies of water.

The main reason for the reduction in the number of breeding birds was due to the level of an insecticide in the environment called DDT, this did not poison the birds directly, however it reduced the viability of the eggs and this greatly reduced the number of birds successfully breeding. Rachel Carson wrote a book called Silent Spring and this raised everyone's awareness of the danger and environmental damage to wildlife and to humans. This was in my opinion the start of the environmental movement to protect wildlife and the planet; we have a long way to go to be successful in this.

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The U.S. state with the largest resident population is Alaska; out of the estimated 100,000 Bald Eagles on Earth, half live there.

This eagle gets both its common and scientific names from the distinctive appearance of the adult's head. Bald in the English name refers to the white head feathers, and the scientific name is derived from Haliaeetus, the New Latin for "sea eagle," (from the Greek haliaetos) and leucocephalus, the Greek for "white head," from leukos ("white") and kephale ("head").

1

Select the reason for the decline of the Bald Eagle. What was the main reason for the Bald Eagle to nearly become extinct in North America in the 60' and 70's a) Lack of food b) Hunting by Humans c) The pesticide DDT d) Too many cities in Alaska e) Climate change f) Not enough Male Bald Eagles Correct, well done. It was due to the agricultural insecticide DDT causing the eggs of the Bald Eagle to have thin shells and the eggs broke easily. That is not the correct answer, read through the section above and try again.Your answer has been saved.

Bald eagle. credit USFWS

The Bald Eagle's natural range includes most of North America, including most of Canada, all of the continental United States, and northern Mexico. The bird itself is able to live in most of North America's varied habitat from the bayous of Louisiana to the Sonoran desert to the eastern deciduous forests of Quebec and New England. It can be a migratory bird but it also is not unheard of for a nesting pair to overwinter in a particular area.

Bald Eagles are protected by two federal laws in the United States: the Bald Eagle Protection Act (1940), which protects Bald and Golden Eagles, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1918).

2

In what U.S. State will you most Bald Eagles In what U.S. State will you find the largest number of Bald Eagles. a) Florida b) Kentucky c) New York State d) Alaska Correct, Alaska has over half of the 100,000 Bald Eagles in the World. This state may well have Bald Eagles, there is another State that has more! Check your answer from the section above and try again. Your answer has been saved.