Bald Eagles at Knoebels
Amusement Park
Information about Bald Eagles
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is
a bird of prey found in North America that is most
recognizable as the national bird and symbol of the United
States of America.
The Bald Eagle was on the brink of
extinction in the continental United States (while
flourishing in much of Alaska and Canada) late in the 20th
century, but now has a stable population and had been
officially removed from the U.S. federal government's list
of endangered species on July 12, 1995 by the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service, when it was reclassified from "Endangered"
to "Threatened." On July 6, 1999, a proposal was initiated
"To Remove the Bald Eagle in the Lower 48 States From the
List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife." It was
de-listed on June 28, 2007.
The Bald Eagle is a large bird, with a body
length of 28 – 40 inches, a wingspan of 71 – 92 inches, and
a mass of 5½ – 15 lb. with females
being about 25 percent larger than males. It is the
largest raptor in North America. The adult Bald Eagle has a
brown body with a white head and tail, and bright yellow
irises, taloned feet, and a hooked beak; juveniles are
completely brown except for the yellow feet. Males and
females are identical in plumage coloration. Its diet
consists mainly of fish, but it is an opportunistic feeder.
It hunts fish by swooping down and snatching the fish out of
the water with its talons. It is sexually mature at four
years or five years of age. In the wild, Bald Eagles can
live up to thirty years, and often survive longer in
captivity. The Bald Eagle builds the largest nest of
any North American bird, up to 13 ft deep, 8.2 feet wide,
and 2,200 pounds (1.1 tons) in weight.
Permits are required to keep Bald Eagles in
captivity in the United States. Permits are primarily issued
to public educational institutions, and the eagles which
they show are permanently injured individuals which cannot
be released to the wild. The facilities where eagles are
kept must be equipped with adequate caging and facilities,
as well as workers experienced in the handling and care of
eagles. Bald Eagles cannot legally be kept for falconry in
the United States. As a rule, the Bald Eagle is a poor
choice for public shows, being timid, prone to becoming
highly stressed, and unpredictable in nature. Native
American Tribes can obtain a "Native American Religious Use"
permit to keep non-releasable eagles as well. They use their
naturally molted feathers for religious and cultural
ceremonies. The Bald Eagle can be long-lived in captivity if
well cared for, but does not breed well even under the best
conditions.
