The bald eagle has the freedom to soar through the sky and perch amongst the highest peaks. It is no wonder the eagle became a national symbol of the United States.

North America is the only place in the world where Bald Eagles can be found. Adult Bald Eagles average 30 to 32 inches tall and have a wingspan measuring six to seven feet. They have tremendous eyesight with a visual acuity six times better than that of humans. This exceptional vision, along with their long, sharp talons, make them very effective predators. They prefer to inhabit areas near open water such as large lakes, rivers, wetlands, or ocean coasts. Eagles migrate in order to seek out temperate environments. In northern regions they will travel south to escape the cold winters. Eagles from southern regions will move north in the summer to avoid the extreme heat.

Bald Eagles are monogamous birds with an average life span of up to twenty years. They build large nests in the forks of tall trees or along cliff faces. They return to the same nesting site each year, adding new materials to the previous year’s nest. A Bald Eagle’s nest can reach ten feet across and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Each mating season the female will lay one or two eggs. Both sexes will tend to the eggs during the 32 to 35 day incubation period.

Young Eagles, or “eaglets,” are a mix of brown and white with a black bill. The responsibility of feeding and nurturing to the eaglets is shared by both parents. The young remain in the nest for 10 to 12 weeks. By this age, they are able to fly and they are learning how to hunt. Starvation, disease, bad weather, and predation cause many young Eagles to perish in their first year. Less than 50% of all Eagles survive to adulthood.