Home		Other Articles and Shopping Resources 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. The bald eagle is native to North America, making it a new sight for the Europeans. 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. The only so-called 'sea eagle' in North America is the bald eagle. The bald eagle has a striking appearance, with its dark brown feathers set off by the stark white feathers of its tail and head. Coins, flags, buildings, and seals in the United States have used the image of the bald eagle to symbolize the country. These birds of prey are raptors, along with owls, hawks, vultures, and falcons. 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 The adult bald eagle has few natural enemies, especially considering their size of up to 16 pounds, wingspans of 7 feet, and a length of up to 32 inches. Florida is the home of the smaller bald eagles, and Alaska is home to the larger ones. Wherever the bald eagle lives, the animals in the region scatter when the bird begins to land. The area required for a pair of bald eagles to hunt in is large- anywhere from 2 to 15 square miles. Bald eagle pairs live in a shared nest, keeping it closely guarded from harm. The bald eagle sometimes chases animals that have made a catch of their own, such as the east Central Florida bald eagles that chase Ospreys along the Indian River lagoon. The eagle will then get to eat the Osprey's catch, as the Osprey drops its squirming prey to escape the eagle. These birds of prey leave the aggression to hunting and are fiercely loyal to their families. Bald eagles keep the same mate for life, unlike most species of bird. Though most birds live a much shorter time, the bald eagle can live for as many as 25 years. From Northern Mexico, all over the continental United States, and up into Alaska and Canada, the bald eagle resides in much of the continent. The bald eagle travels frequently, flying to northern climates to escape hot summers, the birds usually return close to the place where they were hatched in order to begin families of their own. In the springtime, the bald eagle can lay one to three eggs, each hatching in about 35 days. It takes about three months for the newly hatched baby eagles to begin flying, and another month before they fly away and live on their own. 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. Were you aware that the United States Congress attempted to save the species by passing the Bald Eagle Protection Act in 1940? This law made it illegal for people to disturb or bother the birds. This also included taking bald eagles for reasons such as selling, trading, or transporting them, and also included their eggs and nests. Taking the bald eagle includes killing or wounding the birds, as well as shooting at them, capturing them, or disturbing them. The bald eagle began to die off due to pesticide overuse and DDT and other toxic chemicals. The bald eagle was given a chance to return in numbers thanks to new laws and many reintroduction programs, both federally and privately funded. When the law was enacted, it was thought that the species could not be saved from extinction. Animals with very low populations could be legally classified as threatened by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the species with the lowest numbers could be classified as being 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 long strides of the bald eagle as it launches leads into the soaring, slow motion movement of the bird in flight. The eagle stays fixed on its path, the prize kept firmly in sight. The number of majestic bald eagles is steadily increasing all over North America. Make sure to see these magnificent animals for yourself as soon as possible. OodlesOnBaldEagles.com provides interesting bald eagle facts as well as american bald eagle statues and other bald eagle shopping such as the Eagles Soar Over Rocks.