Creature Feature – Celebrating Bald Eagles

As we continue to celebrate our nation’s 250th year, it seems fitting to celebrate bald eagles too. 

Female bald eagles are larger than males, but both can be huge — their bodies can measure 3 feet long with an 8-foot wingspan. Astoundingly, they can soar over 10,000 feet high. “Baldies” also have incredible eyesight and can spot fish nearly 1 mile away; and when they attack prey, they plummet downward at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.

Bald eagles build BIG nests for their young: the largest on record was 9.6 feet in diameter and 20 feet tall! Another famous baldie nest weighed over 4,000 pounds! Baby bald eagles (called eaglets) grow rapidly, gaining a half pound to pound of weight per week until they are around 9-10 weeks old. Immature birds won’t fully develop their species’ distinctive white head and tail (and bright yellow eyes and beak) until they are 5 years old; meanwhile, it’s a transitory process as they develop an increasing amount of color change with each successive molt. These distinguishable stages of progression help avian enthusiasts estimate the age of sub-adult eagles.

Although bald eagles can live for 35 years or more in the wild, a recent landmark study found that nearly half of all the eagles tested over an 8-year period suffered from chronic lead exposure, resulting in population impacts. Please help keep these majestic symbols of America soaring high by pledging to use lead-free fishing tackle and ammunition.

Article & photo by Margie Manthey