The Bald Eagle - Not Endangered Anymore
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The Bald Eagle Defies Extinction
After fears that the national symbol of the United States, the bald eagle, would soon be extinct, the bird is now well on its way to recovery. Experts realized in 1940 that the species had become endangered, and a law was passed to offer it protection from hunters- the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. DDT offered another threat to the survival of the bald eagle, and continued to feed the decline in numbers after the birds were no longer hunted. The bald eagle's numbers were down to only 417 pairs in the U.S. in 1963, and the species was put on the endangered species list in 1973.Far from the expected extinction of the treasured national symbol, the bald eagle has since made a dramatic recovery. There are almost 10,000 breeding pairs today- enough for the species to be removed from the endangered species list. But, experts will not leave the bald eagle vulnerable to decline again. The bald eagle's numbers will be monitored for a few years to make sure they do not begin to decline again. The monitoring will enable the research community to be aware of any changes in numbers, and for inclusion into the endangered species list if necessary.
Even off the endangered species list, there are other protections in place, such as the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. In addition, the eagles also benefit from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act enacted in 1918. This treaty ensured that not only were migratory birds protected in the United States, but from hunting and trade in several other countries as well. The treaty protects the eagles that fly into Mexico and Canada from being hunted, as well as making it illegal to sell the nests and feathers of bald eagles to buy or sell their eggs.
The 1972 ban on the use of DDT has also done much to protect bald eagles. DDT traveled up the food chain to the bald eagle, and other animals, causing a steep decline in the number of breeding pairs. DDT caused a serious decline in bald eagle numbers, becoming a major contributor to the species' near extinction. The chemical, used as a pesticide, found its way into bodies of water frequented by eagles. The fish in these waterways became contaminated and were then eaten by bald eagles. The affected eagles were unable to produce eggshells that were hard enough to keep from cracking before the incubation period was over. The havoc wreaked by DDT made it difficult for the species to reproduce as mother eagles cracked their own thin eggs in an attempt to incubate them. With DDT now gone, the number of bald eagles can continue to grow.
Bald Eagle Facts
-Immature eagles are distinguishable from the Golden Eagle in that the latter has feathers which extend down the legs.
-The Bald Eagle can be long-lived in captivity if key demands are met, but does not breed well even under the best conditions.
- If its territory has access to water, it remains there year-round, but if it lacks access to water, it migrates to the south or to the coast during winter, in order to obtain food.
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