American Bald Eagle

Declared Emblem of the U.S. by the Second Continental Congress

1782 Found only in America Symbolizes spirit, freedom, and pursuit of

excellence

Eaglets featherslight gray, dark brown

Mottled brown and white under wings and on head, tail, breast

4to5 white head and tail feathers come

Beak and eyes( yellow) 29 to 42 inches long Weight up to 7 to 15 lbs Wing height 6 to 8 ft

Lakes Seacoasts Rivers

Have to be close by water and talltrees for food and nesting.

Rabbit Snakes Fish Ducks Muskrats Coots Turtles Dead animals

Scoop up fish Long and sharp about 1,000 lbs of pressure

per square inch Have to lift half their weight or may drown Speed of dive 75 to 100

miles per hr; verticle

Mate for life Male will go with another eagle only if their

lady lover pass away

Female birth 1-3 eaglet eggs in springHatch 35 days

12wks fully grown eaglets

Eyries- large nests 2ft deep; 5ft wide Nest made of mosses, grass, feathers, and

twigs

Levels

Threatened levels less than10,000 nesting pairs 1950s

1960s endangered levels less than 500 pairs

>>>>Continental U.S.<<<<<

Reason for population decline************Humans************

*

Shooting Habitat destruction Plants covered with

pesticides Pollution of water Food

contamination

Caused a decline in the population of the eagles

Active private State and federal conservation efforts Environmental protection laws Primary law moved from Endangered

Species Act to Bald and Golden Eagle Act In U. S., Pesticides were outlawed in 1972 Less funding for protection management

*Population protection

Strict enforcement Habitat preservation Public status awareness Environmental Conservation Programs

support

Listed endangered from 1967-1995 in U.S. Recovered from threatened status

………...I’m no longer endangered!