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The bald eagle, which is the symbol of our nation, is one of the chief predators at the refuge. 
The bald eagle was adopted as the nation's national emblem in 1782 because its fierce demeanor suggests freedom, strength, and courage. Usually found near water, bald eagles feed on fish and waterfowl. Bald eagles have white feathers on their heads and tails. This white plumage gives the bald eagle its name, and identifies an adult bald eagle. Immature bald eagles are mostly dark brown. It takes about 5 years for young bald eagles to reach maturity and get their full adult plumage. Mature bald eagles are about 3 feet long, have a 7-foot wingspan, and weigh between 8 and 10 pounds. Bald eagles can live up to 30 years in the wild and even longer in captivitiy. top of page Although once endangered, bald eagle populations have made a remarkable recovery. Although bald eagles were once listed as endangered, their numbers have increased in recent years. They were removed from the endangered species list, and listed as a threatened species in 1999. When Europeans first arrived in North America, there were between one-quarter to one-half million bald eagles. The first major decline in the bald eagle population probably began in the mid-1800s, when eagles were killed by humans and began to lose their nesting habitat to development. In 1940, Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act, prohibiting killing or selling of bald eagles. However, the increasing use of pesticides, particularly DDT, caused the shells of the birds' eggs to thin, and resulted in nesting failures. Loss of nesting habitat also continued to contribute to the population decline. In 1967, bald eagles were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Preservation Act. In 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of DDT in the United States. This was the first step on the road to recovery for the bald eagle. top of page Bald eagles pair for life. 
Bald eagles display spectacular aerial courtship, including locking talons and descending in series of somersaults. Bald eagles usually use the same nest year after year. Each year, nesting pairs of bald eagles return to the refuge and begin to restore their nests. Eagles begin breeding in March and April, laying 2 to 3 eggs yearly. Their young are independent by August. Eagle nests are often built in the forks of tall trees, and are made of large sticks deeply lined with fine materials. A typical nest is about 5 feet in diameter, but after many years, some nests may become enormous, weighing as much as a ton! Try these classroom and field trip activities to learn more about bald eagles.
Bird Matching Game: Can you match the bird's song to its picture? (requires
Flash) top of page Learn more about bald eagles! National Wildlife Federation: Eagles The Science Spot: Eagles Page for Kids Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: Bald Eagle Fact Sheet Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: Eagle Camera Visit the other learning stations in the Birds of the Refuge field trip. |
