The document provides information about the bald eagle, including that it was chosen as the national bird of the United States due to its majestic appearance and longevity. Bald eagles hunt for fish by diving from heights at speeds up to 99 mph. They nest near water sources and their nests can weigh over 1 metric ton. Bald eagles were endangered due to pesticide and poaching but have since been removed from the endangered species list.

1. Bald Eagle “ Haliaeetus leucocephalus” Tyler Aughney Mr. Buckman 0 Biology

2. Facts On June 20, 1782 the bald eagle was chosen as the emblem of the United States of American, because of its long life, great strength and majestic looks, and also because it was use to be thought to exist only on this continent . When flying the bald eagle can reach speeds of 35-43 mph. When diving the bald eagle reaches speeds of 75-99 mph.

3. Food and Hunting Bald Eagles when mature will always have a favorite perch located above a river or a marsh. They will sit motionless until they see the shimmer of a fish. At that point it will leap from its perch and bomb dive the fish and pluck it out of the water. When fish are scarce the eagles will eat anything it can find including foxes, young deer, or even geese in flight.

4. Habitat The bald eagle will nest near costal areas, marshes, and riverbanks for their main food source fish. The bald eagle has been found in Florida’s estuaries and pine forest. The eagles greatest stronghold is in Alaska.

5. Bald Eagles and Humans Bald Eagles are currentlyno longer on the endangered list. They use to be extinct in the lower 48 states because of a pesticide know as DDT was killing them all. They have also been hunted down to the brink of extinction form poachers collecting their feathers. In June 2007 they were removed from the endangered list.

6. Bald Eagle Habitat Map http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/animal-facts/images/bald_eagle_range.jpg

7. Breeding Bald eagles become sexually mature at four or five years old. Their nest are usually built near a source of water. Their nest on average are 13 ft deep, 8.2 ft across and weigh 1 metric ton

8. Statistics Length: Male, about 2 ½ feet Female, 3 feet Weight: Male, 10lbs Female, 13lbs Wingspan: 6-8 feet

9. Works Cited http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/ http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/animal-facts/images/bald_eagle_range.jpg http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/bald-eagle.html http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/id?gclid=CJmK6a2AwqgCFQkFbAodQC0RqA