Creature Feature Encyclopedia: Aves

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

In 1782, the American Bald Eagle was declared the national emblem of the United States. Nevertheless, the Bald Eagle has often not been treated by Americans with respect. Eagle populations decreased until President Kennedy appealed to the people in 1963 to save the Bald Eagle from destruction. "The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolize the strength and freedom of America," he said, "and we shall have failed a trust if we allow the eagle to disappear." At that time, many Bald Eagles had also fallen victim to toxic chemicals such as DDT. There were fewer than 400 nesting pairs left in the continental United States. Today the Bald Eagle's future looks considerably brighter. Thanks to years of protection, more than 4,000 nesting pairs now survive in the continental United States, with upwards of 45,000 more Bald Eagles in Alaska.

~A Fly in the Sky © 1996