The Bald Eagle (haliaeetus leucocephalus) built the largest tree nest of any animal in the world, at 2,200 pounds (1 tonne). It uses the same nest year after year high up in trees (up to 180′) or on cliffs, near lakes, streams or reservoirs. It feeds mainly on fish, swooping down and snatching them out of the water. It also raids other birds nests to steal food, such as Osprey and some smaller birds. It will eat mammals and small birds and quite often carrion.
The word bald in this bird’s name is and archaic use, meaning “white headed” not hairless, or, in this case, featherless. The genus and species names are Greek and translates as: “sea eagle” “white-headed”.
The Bald Eagle was almost eradicated from the United States in the first two thirds of the 20th century by a combination of hunting with guns (mostly for the prized tail feathers) and the cumulative effect of DDT weakening the shells of their eggs making them so soft that they would be crushed in the nest during incubation, just as Rachel Carson had predicted. Populations have since recovered and the species was removed from the U.S. government’s list of endangered species on July 12, 1995 and transferred to the list of threatened species. It was removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in the Lower 48 States on June 28, 2007.
It’s amazing to see this huge raptor fly overhead. It is sad to see one lying dead on Route 309 after being hit while it was eating roadkill.
Family: Hawks and Eagles
You must be logged in to post a comment.