Spotted: the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
If you are from the US, this is a bird you are accustomed to seeing. It is on our money, ID cards, passports, and government emblems. At one point, these birds were in danger of extinction due to the pesticide DDT. In fact, it was reported that only 400 mating pairs remained in the country. After the pesticide was banned and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was passed by Congress, the Bald Eagle made a miraculous comeback. In a 2016 population status report, an estimate of over 300,000 individual Bald Eagles was accounted for in the continental US. Additionally, these birds are the only eagle species found exclusively in North America, with populations ranging from Canada to northern Mexico. Except for Hawaii, they have been spotted in every US state.
Opportunist or Apex Predator?
The US named the Bald Eagle the national bird of the US due to its striking appearance and classification as an apex predator. Despite this reputation of majestic hunters, Bald Eagles are actually opportunists. They are often found scavenging in landfills and sewage plants for scraps of food. Not to mention, they are known to steal prey from other birds and prefer this method over hunting for their own food. They can be spotted in mid-flight attempting to steal the prey from other hunting birds, including Osprey and Hawks. It would appear that the US government may have been misguided in its convictions. Or, maybe this was the message they were going for the whole time.
The Declared Contempt
One individual who was all too aware of the Bald Eagle’s ways was Benjamin Franklin, one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence. He opposed to adorning the honor of national bird to the Bald Eagle, and reportedly declared, the
For my part, I wish the [bald] eagle had not been chosen as the representative of this country. He is a bird of bad moral character; he does not get his living honestly. You may have seen him perched in some dead tree where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing hawk and, when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish and is bearing it to his nest for his young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes the fish. With all this injustice, he is never in good case.”
-Excerpt from an article by the National Wildlife Foundation
Moreover, Franklin was in favor of the turkey, praising it as a bird of courage. Unfortunately, despite the strong case he made to Congress, his persuasion fell flat, and the Bald Eagle remains, to this day, the national bird of the United States.
Lazy Hunters make for Loyal Mates
Where they lack in their hunting prowess, they make up for in their search for a mate. Bald Eagles are birds that mate for life, enduring a dramatic courtship before locking up with their partner for good. They will attract mates in the usual way, with mating calls and nest building. Once the male and female pair finish their nest, they perform quite the theatrical number referred to as a cartwheel display. Essentially, the pair will lock talons mid-flight and spiral toward the ground, unlocking talons just before smacking into the ground. After the performance, they return to the nest, and the rest is history. Talk about a spectacular marriage ceremony to seal the deal.
The cartwheel display is not the only way Bald Eagles demonstrate their commitment to their mates. They take the prize for having the largest bird’s nest, creating monstrosities consisting of tree branches, plants, and other organic matter they can scavenge. Typically, these nests grow up to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. The largest on record was discovered in Petersburg, Florida, at a whopping 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide! Impressive, yeah?
Have other fun facts to share about the Bald Eagle? Share them in the comments below!
Happy Trails!
