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Did you know that the United States adopted the bald eagle as the national bird and symbol of the nation in 1782? No European has ever seen a bald eagle, as they were native only to North America. No European has ever seen a bald eagle, as they were native only to North America. The sea eagle name lingers, and the scientific name, Haliaetus leucocephalus, actually means "sea eagle with a white head" in Greek and Latin.

North America is the home of only one variety of 'sea eagle'- the bald eagle. The bald eagle is immediately obvious by its smooth, white head and white tail, contrasted by the deep brown feathers of its body. Buildings and official seals have been emblazoned with the image of the bald eagle, as well as many U.S. coins and flags.

These birds of prey are raptors, along with owls, hawks, vultures, and falcons. Bald eagles live mainly on a diet of waterfowl and fish, but may also eat animals such as snakes, rodents, birds, and rabbits, and when these live specimens are not available they may also eat carrion. The enormous adult bald eagle, with wingspans up to 7.5 feet, weighing up to 16 pounds, and with a length of up to 32 pounds, is a worthy adversary for any animal. The largest eagles live in Alaska, and the smaller eagles can be found in Florida. Wherever they are, when animals see the bald eagle descending, they know to scatter.

Each hunting pair of bald eagles requires an area of 2 to 15 square miles in which to hunt. The fiercely guarded nest of the bald eagle is often the home for a pair of eagles. Bald eagles living along the Indian River lagoon located on the Central Florida coast have been known to go after Ospreys who have themselves caught a meal. The Osprey will drop its mullet to evade the chasing eagle, and the eagle then has a fresh meal.

Although they are birds of prey, the bald eagle shows a tremendous instinct for family loyalty. The bald eagle stays with its mate for life, though few other birds follow this behavior. The bald eagle in the wild can live to be 25 years old, though most birds do not live to be this age. 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 spring, one to three eggs can be laid by the breeding bald eagle, which then hatch after 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? The law prohibits anyone from disturbing or bothering bald eagles. The law also prohibited taking the animals, their eggs, or their nests, for any reason unless they have a permit. Take includes not just capturing or trapping the bald eagle, but also bothering them, shooting at them, and wounding or killing them.

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. New laws and reintroduction programs for the bald eagle have given the birds a chance to survive. The bald eagle was so near to extinction that many thought it impossible to save the species.

For species with small populations, and those with very few animals left, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 allowed the legal classifications of endangered or threatened. 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. As the number of bald eagles increase, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has plans to remove the bird from the endangered species list altogether.

To watch these birds is to witness their power and beauty. The bald eagle takes off with strides that are powerful and purposeful. The eagle soars as if in slow motion. The eagle stays fixed on its path, the prize kept firmly in sight. From one end of the continent to the other, the majestic presence of the bald eagle is increasing. These beautiful animals should certainly be seen in person.

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