Save the Eagles Day
eagles are powerful and majestic creatures
Most well known for being the bird that represents America, Eagles are powerful and majestic creatures. They are also known to be a symbol of freedom and peace. These intelligent animals are fierce hunters and mesmerizing to watch soar in their natural habitat.
Bald Eagles have a true comeback story of how protection and conservation can help bring back a species. Starting in the early 1900s, hunting Eagles became a popular game sport. Farmers also started hunting Eagles to protect their livestock and fish that the Eagles hunted. In 1917 the Alaska Territorial Legislature enacted a bounty on Eagles and from the 1940s to the 1960s, the Bald Eagles numbers decreased rapidly due to the overuse of the harmful pesticide DDT.
The bounty was removed in 1953, and in 1959, when Alaska became a state, they were added to the federal Bald Eagle Protection Act. Bald Eagles we added to the Endangered Species list and became fully protected under the Endangered Species Act. DDT became banned in 1972 which helped the numbers increase and in 2007 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed Bald Eagles from the Federal Endangered Species List. Now, the Bald Eagle is a thriving species and a symbol of how taking steps to preserve animals can save a species.
Conservation efforts have helped bring back Eagle numbers, but there is still more we can do to help protect them. You can help with conservation efforts by helping protect Eagles habitats, volunteer to clean up areas Eagles call home, or adopting an Eagle through the National Wildlife Federation. Your symbolic adoption and donation will be used to help protect Eagles and plant trees where they can help protect and restore areas for wildlife.
In honor of Save the Eagles Day on January 10th, here are a few interesting facts about Eagles:
There are 60 Different Species of Eagles
Most species of Eagles can be found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Steller’s Sea-Eagles, and White-tailed Eagles are the only Eagles found in the United States.
Eagles are Fierce Hunters
An Eagles body is built for hunting. They have large eyes that can see 4-5 times better than humans and are angled on their heads away from the center of their face to help give Eagles a larger view area. Eagles’ talons are perfect for picking up and gripping prey and their hooked beaks help them to eat their prey easily.
Eagles are Mates for Life
Eagles are monogamous which means they typically mate for life. Most Eagle pairs build nests at the tops of trees and reuse their nests year to year. They add to the nest every year to keep it stable so it can last many years. Eagles are known to be some of the most loyal animals in the animal kingdom.
The Average Lifespan of an Eagle is 20 years
Most Eagles live to about 20-30 years, which is relatively short for birds. Lifespans also very on the species of Eagles and the locations they call home. Eagles usually start to weaken around the age of 20.