American Bald Eagle Fact

There is a very interesting and hope-inspiring American Bald Eagle Fact, and that is about the recovery of their population that slumped by the 1960s to a menacing level. The prohibition of the DDT pesticide, which nearly destroyed the entire Bald Eagle population, as well as strict limitations on Bald Eagle hunting, have contributed to a considerable increase in their numbers by the end of the 20th century. This permitted wildlife officials to upgrade the species from Endangered to Threatened. By 2007, their numbers have grown sufficiently, so they were excluded from the Threatened list.

The American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) commonly found throughout the North-American continent. Their range covers the entire U.S. and Canada, extending from north Mexico in the South to Alaska in the north. American Bald Eagles are concentrated near open bodies of water, since they feed on fish. There are lots of them in coastal areas as well, because they take sea fish as willingly as freshwater fish. They also feed on ground animals, smaller birds and waterfowl. Sometimes they resort to carrion. Most interesting American Bald Eagle Facts are related to their way of hunting and mating.

Bald Eagles are expert hunters, since they have a few adaptations: excellent eyesight and sharp talons. They can fly high up above the ground, and they scope large areas, locating unsuspecting prey. They hunt fish by swooping down and catching it from water. If the fish is too heavy to an Eagle to carry in the air, they can paddle toward the bank or the shore, using their strong wings as oars. Their curved and strong beaks enable them to promptly rip meat from bones. Websites usually provide detailed information on species behavior, so you can find a comprehensive site and familiarize yourself with more interesting American Bald Eagle Facts.

There is yet another notable American Bald Eagle Fact, and that is their monogamy. Bald Eagles choose mates for lifetime, and do not look elsewhere unless one of them dies or disappears. They may also part if they fail to produce offspring for a long time. Both males and females participate in caring for the young. Pairs choose tall and sturdy trees or rocks for building nests, and they use a single nest for many years. They add material to the nest every year, so the eventual size of nests may reach 8-10 feet wide.

Newborn eaglets have light grey feathers, and they turn dark brown by 12 weeks of age. This is the time when they start leaving their nests. Bald Eagles mature by age of 3-4 years old, and their heads and tails turn white by age of 4-5 years old. Adult Eagles have yellow beaks and eyes, while young eagles have brown beaks and eyes. Wild Bald Eagles live up to 40 years. Bald Eagles have had a strong presence in the history of the United States, being its national symbol. You can find an interesting American Bald Eagle Fact related to the history of the U.S. in various IT and library sources.