Bald Eagle —Ross Feldner

Our nation’s symbol is the Bald Eagle, which is not really bald; it has white feathers on its head, neck, and tail. The word bald in the eagle’s name comes from a derivation of balde, an Old English word meaning white.

This majestic bird is a diurnal (day) hunter that can swim, fly 20-40 miles per hour in normal flight, and dive at speeds over 100 miles per hour. Eagle nests are very large, often used year after year, adding more twigs and branches each time). One nest found had been used for 34 years and weighed over 2 tons!

The bald eagle belongs to a group of birds known as raptors, or birds of prey that hunt and feed on other animals. They have very sharp vision that allows them to find prey during flight. They also have very strong talons and beaks. Raptors are a vital part of a healthy ecosystem and by protecting them many other species are protected. Like many birds, the Bald Eagle was threatened by the overuse of chemical pesticides such as DDT, until Rachel Carson and others exposed this menace and DDT was banned.