Bald eagles are famous as the national bird and symbol of the United States. These amazing birds are warm-blooded, have beaks and wings, lay eggs, and are covered in feathers. Even though they’re called “bald,” they aren’t really without feathers. The name comes from “piebald,” which means having patches of different colors. Their white head and tail stand out against their dark bodies, making them easy to recognize.
Bald eagles are part of the sea eagle family and can grow quite large. They can be up to 40 inches long, have wings that stretch up to 7.5 feet wide, and weigh almost 14 pounds. They are the biggest eagles in North America and live only on this continent. You can find them in Canada, Alaska, the lower 48 states, and parts of Mexico.
Bald eagles are meat-eaters and love to eat fish. They also eat rabbits, beavers, geese, reptiles, crabs, and even dead animals. They usually live near big lakes, rivers, or the ocean, where they can find food. They like to build their nests in tall, old trees.
Bald eagles are great at building nests. Their nests are the biggest of any bird in North America and can be the largest tree nests in the world. A bald eagle’s nest can be up to 13 feet deep, over 8 feet wide, and weigh more than a ton! Eagles mate for life and use the same nest every year, making it bigger and stronger. They can live for 30 years or more, so their nests can become huge over time.
Young bald eagles, called juveniles, look different from adults. They don’t have the white head and tail until they are about four or five years old. Instead, they have dark brown feathers with some white streaks.
The bald eagle has been a symbol of the United States since 1782 when it was put on the Great Seal. You can see it on American money, flags, important papers, buildings, and passports. In the 1700s, bald eagles were everywhere in America, with about 500,000 of them. But by the 1950s, there were only about 400 nesting pairs left because of habitat loss, hunting, and a harmful pesticide called DDT.
To save bald eagles from disappearing, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was created. In 1967, bald eagles were listed as endangered, and in 1972, DDT was banned in the U.S. These actions helped the bald eagle population grow again, and by 1995, they were no longer endangered. Today, there are about 70,000 bald eagles in North America.
Bald eagles are not just symbols of freedom and strength; they also show how important it is to protect animals and their homes. Their amazing comeback from near extinction teaches us that we can make a difference in saving wildlife.
Observe and Draw: Spend some time outside or look through books and online resources to find pictures of bald eagles. Notice their features, such as their white head, dark body, and large wings. Draw your own picture of a bald eagle and label its parts. Think about why these features might help the eagle survive in its environment.
Build a Nest: Using materials like twigs, leaves, and string, try to build a small model of a bald eagle’s nest. Remember, bald eagles build their nests in tall trees and make them very strong. How big can you make your nest? Discuss with a friend or family member why eagles need such large and sturdy nests.
Food Chain Exploration: Create a simple food chain that includes the bald eagle. Start with the sun, then add plants, fish, and finally the bald eagle. Draw each part of the food chain and connect them with arrows. Discuss why each part of the food chain is important and what might happen if one part were missing.
