~Journey Of An Eagle~ Sorry your browsers don't use Java.

Bald Eagle

Introduction: The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is among the most well-known animal in the United States and has served as its national symbol since 1782. The bald eagle is a bird of prey unique to North America, and renowned for its aura of dignity, majesty and authority in the sky. Eagles will often soar to high altitudes before diving to Earth in search of prey. For much of the last half century the bald eagle was in danger of extinction, although in recent years its population has increased in numbers, suggesting a bright future. The near-loss of a national symbol: During the U.S. Revolutionary era, bald eagles were prevalent throughout North America, numbering as high as 75,000 nesting pairs. To celebrate its existence, the bald eagle was made part of our Great Seal by the Continental Congress in 1782. The Great Seal is used for diplomatic purposes, including treaties and letters from the President to foreign dignitaries and leaders.

Over the next century and a half, the bald eagle population suffered from habitat degradation and illegal shooting. The greatest threat to its existence came from the widespread use of pesticides after World War II, especially DDT. During this time, DDT was sprayed on crops across the country, and was absorbed by plants that were ultimately eaten by fish. The contaminated fish then infected the bald eagle, inhibiting the bird's ability to develop strong egg shells. The weakened shells would break during incubation, effectively preventing reproduction.

In 1940, the U.S. Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act, making it illegal to kill, possess without a license or sell bald eagles. Still, by the early 1960's there were fewer than 450 bald eagle pairs nesting in the lower 48 states. By 1967, bald eagles were officially declared an endangered species. In response, an alarmed public banned most uses of DDT in the U.S. in 1972.

Over the past quarter century, the bald eagle has managed something of a comeback, assisted by strong legislation and new breeding and reintroduction efforts. Numerous eggs have been removed from wild nests to be incubated, hatched and raised in captivity to increase the birds' survival rate. At 12 weeks old, the eaglets are released into the wild.

By 1995 there were nearly 4,500 adult bald eagle pairs nesting in the lower 48 states. In July 1995, the Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the bald eagle had recovered to a point where it could be upgraded from "endangered" to "threatened."

Range: Despite relatively small numbers, the bald eagle can be found across the United States, including Alaska, Florida, and Maine. Their range will vary, depending on the time of year and breeding patterns, though northern birds will migrate south in the winter. However, the bald eagle will almost always return to nest within 100 miles of where they were raised.

Physical Characteristics: Male bald eagles generally measure between 2-3 feet (60 to 90 cm) from head to tail, weigh 7-10 pounds (3.2 to 4.5 kg), and have a wingspan of around 6 feet (1.8 m). Females are larger, weighing up to 14 pounds (6.4 kg) with a wingspan of 8 feet (2.4 m). People are often disappointed to learn that the bald eagle is not really bald; instead, it earns its name from the distinctive white feathers covering the head and neck. The rest of the body and wings tend to be very dark, although the bird won't fully develop its color until it matures around age five. Bald eagles often live thirty years in the wild, and even longer in captivity.

Diet: The bald eagle feeds primarily on fish plucked out of the water, sometimes submerging completely to catch its prey. However, bald eagles will also prey on just about anything else they can catch, including ducks, rodents, and snakes. They have keen eyesight and find their prey while circling high above the unknowing victim. The bald eagle will then swoop down at very high speeds to attack and kill with its strong talons and beak. In some cases, the bald eagle will let other animals do the dirty work for them. For example, it is famous for stealing the food of ospreys by attacking the bird and forcing it to drop its prey.

Reproduction: Bald eagles will mate for life and normally lay 2-3 eggs one time per year. Sometimes both parents share responsibilities, though often just the female will incubate the eggs, which hatch after about 35 days. Baby eagles will stay in the nest for 3 months or so, after which they are capable of some flight. In order to encourage young to leave the nest, parents will often discontinue feeding or lure the them away with fish. Often eaglets will not make it past their first year of life, due to disease, lack of food, bad weather, or human interference.

The eagle nest is itself quite extraordinary because of its enormous size--in some cases stretching 10 feet wide (3 m) and weighing as much as 2,000 pounds (about 900 kg). Nests are often re-used by the same pair of birds year after year, growing larger as additional material is added. Most nests are built in the tops of large trees near rivers, lakes, and other wetland areas for easy access to food.

Note: Some information has been excerpted from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) with permission.

He glides up above observing....,
and there was a time when he has seen the
true beauty and goodness in this garden.
He has seen water sparkling from its purity flowing down
noble mountains as he felt the refreshing power of clean
air as he worked with the winds to fly.

The Difference Between Strength
and Courage

It takes strength to be firm,
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard,
It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend's pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide your own pains,
It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.

Fly High My Friend

May you always fly with the eagles.
May your heart always be as free as a bird,
As you rest high in the mountions,
Don't forget to come back down to your friends,
Friends are in the eye of a storm,
And in the center of a rainbow,

To watch the sun rise over the mountions,
As the fog leaves the ground,
I can still here the eagle call,
What was he searching for in the night,
A lost love,A lost friend,
Or just the sunshine,

I search the slopes in the daylight,
Where is My friend the eagle,
Why does he hide in the day,
And cry in the night,
Come and set in the yellow buttercups.
Come and rest in the lavander,

Remember that that same moon that shines on you,
May be shining on your friends,
That the same breeze that touches you in the mountions,
May be blowing on the plains,
And when I see you flying on high,
Can you see the smile on the land,

The eagle represents courage
and bravery.

The native people believe that they are the ones
closest to the creator, The Great Spirit.
The feathers of the eagle are honored by Indians
as having powerful medicine,and that Eagle Medicine
is the power of The Great Spirit,
the spirit of tenacity.

He heard the rumbling roar of great herds of buffalo
moving across the plains and he has seen Mother Earth
green with healthiness as she raised healthy children
with healthy minds and bodies.

In carrying out his duty he has seen the countless
offerings of the Indigenous people striving to exist
in the true perfection of a two legged in harmony
with Mother Earth.

He has seen the happiness of the children as they
played with pureness in their hearts and he knew
that the Creator smiled upon us with his blessings.

He has seen the arrival of the newcomers who
disrupted our sacred way of life with the desire
of stealing our homelands.

He has seen the courage of our warriors defending
Mother Earth not afraid to die for they know their
spirits will return to our Creator.

He has seen the suffering of the Indigenous people
being hunted down like a wounded deer and he has seen
the real freedom of life disappear from this land.
Even his own image of freedom was placed on papers
and he sees his sacred feathers
being sold for those papers.

Today as he flies above the clouds in space once
only reserved for them, he hears the charge of
the iron birds crashing through the clouds.
He avoids the clouds of filthy air which lingers
over bee hives of busy people
hurrying to satisfy their own taste of honey.

He is sad to see his own die from the lightening power
of endless wires, and words cannot explain the hurt
he feels when he sees his kind in captivity,
displayed for curiosity.

He sees the Indigenous people still trying to be sacred
in ceremonies, but suffering more from the heat
of Father Sun, because the poison has weakened
the sacred blanket in the sky.

He sees the Creator medicine, the food and plants
placed on Mother Earth with the purpose to nourish
and heal..being poisoned.

He sees the poisoned water enter the bodies of
men and animals, causing sickness. He sees all
natural life trying to do their duty on a tired
over worked Mother Earth, and his tears fall as he
sees the woman feel the pain of Mother Earth.

He hears the humble cries of our holy people
asking for a sign from the Creator.
He circles over the people, letting us know the
Creator has heard our prayers.

His heart gladdens when he dances with us
for he knows we still honor him.
He sends us a warning, for he has spoken with
the Creator. The Creator is offended because
the sacredness of his life is disturbed.
He is a witness to all the deeds
of man... and he never forgets.

~HE IS EAGLE~

A few more passing suns will see us here no more,
and our dust and bones will mingle with these same
prairies. I see as in a vision the dying spark of our
council fires, the ashes cold and white.

~God grant us the strength of eagles wings,
and carry us to new heights.~

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