The Incredible Bald Eagle

Image by jimbowen0306 via Flickr

As the Bald Eagle sails the skies, the majestic power it shows in totally incredible; this making it a very appropriate National Bird for the United States since 1782. It symbolizing our freedom we earned, the power we have, and the majesty that we deserve. The Bald Eagle has a very strong and large bill, which hooks downward, making it easier to tear through flesh. The eyes have an eyebrow that cover and protects the eyes especially when he picks up a feisty prey, which can cause the eagle damage. The eagle depends on his good eyesight to see and capture his prey.

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Its black and white head is what helps us recognizes the bald eagle, which is why it is called the bald eagle. The physical key feature is its tiny scales on the end of the talons, which allow them to grip a slimly fish, and other water creatures which he was able to see from up high in the ski. The average bald eagle has a wing span of about 71/2 to 8 feet, which are quite powerful; a few birds were fitted with a radio transmitter and was found to be able to cover 1200 miles when they begin to head south for the winter, now that is awesome. Most eagle weight anywhere between 7 and 14 pounds, taking about four years to full maturity. These are the Eagles that spend more time inland, so their diet may be somewhat more diversified, to compensate for the lack of oceans, lakes and rivers.

The bald eagle in known and seen mostly in the North American, Canadian continent but can be found flying along the artic coast and through dense forest to locate rivers and lake. Bald Eagles can be found from the Artic coast, down through the shorelines of the United States, flying about in Florida seeking humid swamps and wetland, even down as far as the northern Part of Mexico, on the Baja peninsula, through the hot desert land

Most Eagles will sit high on a perch over looking a valley, or open field, in order to see everything, preparing to seek his next meal; here he can see everything. Once he spies his prey, he flies down glides as if motionless, and at the very last minute he puts his talon our front to grab it prey, and brings it high in the sky back to it perch to enjoy. Being very high in the ski offers the best and most protection from most creatures in the area he has chosen.

Wikipedia

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The best time to see the bald eagle is during the autumn season in Alaska when salmon tend to swim up stream, it is then that the bald eagles come together to feast and enjoy themselves. Feasting on the weak and dying salmon, it has been reported that over two thousand have been seen during this time of year. Their diet is not limited to seafood, even thought that is what they enjoy the most, but he will indulge in mammals and reptiles as well.

Bald eagles have a hard job when it comes to breeding and feeding their young. Nest can be found high in a tree, in an isolated ground area, or high on side of a mountain to keep their young protected. Many eagles look for a new location, while others will reuse a previous site; many others will always come back to the same nest each breeding season. When a bald eagle lays her eggs, she will usually lay 2, about 48-72 hours apart, and there is a reason for this, which is quite amazing!
Eaglets

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After the incubation period, which last about 35 days the first egg will hatch and the parents will be able to get the 1st chick as much nutrients that it can, so by the time the second chick hatches, the first one should be strong to somewhat manage on his own. There are occasions that the parents cannot provide well for the two; it is then that the older chick becomes a bully, and takes everything the parents provides leaving the second chick to die of starvation. “Only the strong survive”! Occasionally only one egg will be laid, while on rare occasions three or even four may be laid.
This Bald Eagle is about one years old.

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The mating process occurs high in the ski, after a bit of courtship, flying up and around the male will make his move. They will lock together as they seem to fall from the ski, out of control detaching at the very last moment, going their separate ways. They stay together for a time, and usually fly in the same areas their entire life; some may even mate with each other several times in their lifetime. Eagle mate once a year, in the south they breed between late September to mid April; while in the north they begin making in about April thru August, it lead one to believe that they breed during warm seasons, not too hot, but definitely not during the cold winter months.

With mom having to protect her eggs and provide protection, she is the larger of the two; which is known as reversed sexual dimorphism. In nature there are some other creatures that the female is larger, which is to enable her to care for her offspring.

Looking to the sky to see a majestic Eagle flying is an awesome experience, since it glides so peacefully, with it wings open, and its feathers spread out creating an awesome site.

Most Eagles who are living in the wild and flying freely will survive for about 23-27 years, while an eagle that are at your local Zoo in captivity will survive about twenty years longer. The Bald Eagle one awesome bird.