The Bald Eagle (scientific name Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is one of the most symbolic and recognized birds in the world. It is nearly synonymous with the United States, having been the national emblem for all but the first six years of our great nation’s independence. However, the species’ connection to the land we call home goes back much further than that, as the Bald Eagle served as a spiritual symbol for native peoples long before the Pilgrims began arriving from Britain in the 1600s. Today, the species is admired by many people around the world as a symbol of what the United States is all about: freedom, courage, strength, and immortality.
Appearance and Size
Despite their name, Bald Eagles are not actually bald. They can appear to be bald because of the sharp contrast between their heads, which are predominantly white, and their bodies and wings, which are chocolate-brown in color. However, we can assure you that they have plenty of beautiful feathers on their heads as well as on their bodies. Additionally, adult Bald Eagles have yellow legs, white tails, and yellow bills. Juvenile birds also have brown bodies and wings, although these are mottled in varying amounts of white. Furthermore, juvenile birds have dark heads and tails, which makes them fairly easy to distinguish from adult birds. Juvenile Bald Eagles attain their adult plumage at approximately five years of age.
Bald Eagles are one of the largest bird species in North America. Both males and females are anywhere from 27.9 to 37.8 inches (71 to 96 centimeters) long, and have impressive wingspans of 80.3 inches (204 centimeters). The birds weigh anywhere from 105.8 to 222.2 ounces (3,000 to 6,300 grams).
Diet
Bald Eagles love to eat fish. They feed heavily on many fish species, including carp, salmon, catfish, and herring. However, unlike most animals who eat fish, they generally don’t do their own fishing. Instead, they tend to go after the catches that other bird species worked hard to get. For example, Bald Eagles will sometimes harass hunting Ospreys until they drops their prey in midair, where the eagle wastes little time in grabbing it for themselves. Occasionally, Bald Eagles snatch fish directly out of an Osprey’s talons, much to the Osprey’s dismay. Mammals who fish for food, such as bears, also fall victim to Bald Eagles’ “piracy” (2) from time to time, losing their food in the process. With that being said, Bald Eagles don’t obtain all of their food through thievery. When they hunt, they do so by watching from high perches and swooping down to catch prey in their talons. Additionally, when fish are abundant, they sometimes wade through shallow water in order to catch them for themselves. When fish are scarce, Bald Eagles expand their dietary horizons to include other birds, mammals, carrion, shellfish, crabs, and turtles.
Nesting
Bald Eagles typically breed for the first time at about four to five years of age. Once established, some pairs of eagles mate for life. If the eagles are nesting along the west coast of North America, the nest site is usually in a cliff-side tree. Trees that stand above surrounding forest are preferred. If they are nesting in the northern islands in Alaska and Canada, the nest site is normally on the ground, often on a cliff in the west. Regardless of where the nest is built, it is generally a mound of sticks that is lined with finer materials. Once it’s built, the nest may be expanded and reused for years.
The Young
Bald Eagles typically lay two eggs at a time. The incubation process is handled by both parents, and lasts for approximately five weeks. Once the young hatch, at least one parent remains with them for the first two weeks of their lives. Both parents take turns bringing prey to nest. Initially, they tear the food into small pieces and feed it directly to the young. After about three to six weeks, the young begin pecking at food that the parents drop into the nest. The age at which young Bald Eagles make their first flight is about ten to twelve weeks.
Habitat, and where you can see a Bald Eagle
Since Bald Eagles love to eat fish, it should come as no surprise that they tend to make their habitat near bodies of water. Coastlines, rivers, and large lakes are all prime Bald Eagle habitat. During migration season, they also live in mountains and regions of open country. In the winter months, Bald Eagles are more widespread in the United States, which makes them easier to find. That isn’t to say that you can’t see Bald Eagles in the United States year round. However, many Eagles fly north to Canada when it comes time to breed. Here in Ocean Shores, we are shown by the Audubon Society as being in an area where it is common to see Bald Eagles here year round (3). However, we are very close to the edge of where their map changes from “All Seasons – Common” to “All Seasons – Uncommon”. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that:
- You might not see Bald Eagles here as often as you would in places to our north, such as Forks, Port Angeles, and La Push, which are all firmly in the “All Seasons – Common” zone (3).
- You might see Bald Eagles here more frequently than you would in places to our south, such as Astoria, Lincoln City, and Tillamook, which are all firmly in the “All Seasons – Uncommon” zone (3).
Once you arrive at your nearest body of water, your best bet for finding a Bald Eagle is to look up at the sky, where they can often be seen flying gracefully in solitude. If you’re really lucky, you might see them in the ground or in the water chasing other birds to try and take their food, or, in the winter, gathering in very large flocks.
Opposition and Protection
The Bald Eagle was chosen as the national emblem for the United States by Congress in 1789. This followed six years of “bitter dispute” (4) between members about which bird should be chosen. If Benjamin Franklin had gotten his way, the national emblem could have easily been the Wild Turkey. In 1784, Franklin commented negatively about the Bald Eagle’s “thieving tendencies and its vulnerability to harassment by small birds” (2), writing that…
For my own part, I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. … Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District.(2)
Fortunately for the Bald Eagle, enough members of Congress disagreed with Franklin that the bird was able to be given its special status. Today, the Bald Eagle is a protected species under the National Emblem Act of 1940. However, that status hasn’t stopped some people from shrinking their population. Fishermen and farmers have killed countless eagles for getting too close to their fishing nets, chickens, and turkeys. Game keepers have captured some eagles to be used for falconry. Additionally, the use of chemical pesticides, particularly DDT, led to the deaths of many eagles. Following the banning of DDT in 1972, Bald Eagle populations began to gradually increase have been increasing gradually since the 1970s.
Today, climate change poses the greatest risk to the Bald Eagle’s long term survival. According to the Audubon Society, if global temperatures rise by 3 degrees Celsius, the Bald Eagle will lose summer territory throughout much of the southern half of the United States. At the same time, they will gain new summer territory in far north Canada. In the winter, the Bald Eagle will lose territory in Mexico, California, Texas, and the American Southwest. The species will gain new territory throughout Alaska, Central Canada, and parts of Northern Canada. Therefore, while the Bald Eagle will always be associated with the United States, the species may soon find Canada to be more hospitable for year round living and not just a place to breed.
References
- https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/id#
- https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/overview
- https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/bald-eagle
- https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/eagle.pdf
- https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/ddt-brief-history-and-status#:~:text=In%201972%2C%20EPA%20issued%20a,based%20on%20studies%20in%20animals
© Ian D. Caldwell, December 2021