Bald Eagle Nest
If you explore near bodies of water or in a remote coastal area, you are more likely to see a Bald Eagle Nest, or maybe an Eagle or a pair of mates, because these birds prefer to live near water. They are adept fishers, and fish makes up a large part of their ratio. They also feed on rabbits, raccoons, hares, small birds, waterfowl, reptiles and so forth.
Bald Eagles are renowned for their majestic appearance and proud nature. In 1782, the continental Congress proclaimed the Bald Eagle the national symbol of the United States, and now it is depicted on various official seals, including the Seal of the President of the United States, as well as coins and medals. The Bald Eagle is also a sacred bird in some aboriginal cultures. Eagle feathers bear a huge religious and ceremonial meaning to Native Americans. There are legislative restrictions on the use of Eagle parts, it is only representatives of federally recognized Native American ancestries who can use Eagle feathers. Eagle Nests are also regarded with a sanctified awe by Native Americans.
Despite the majestic aura surrounding Bald Eagles, they have sustained terrible damage in the first half of the twentieth century, and were on the edge of total destruction by the middle of the century. Extensive use of the DDT pesticide contributed to massed poisoning and thinning out of the egg shell, which resulted in a drastic reproduction decline. While there were 400,000-500,000 wild species in America, in the middle of the twentieth century there were less than 1000 species left in the wild. Deforestation, illegal shooting and electrocution also affected the Bald Eagle population. Unfortunately, a Bald Eagle Nest is no longer as common a sight as it used to be before the industrial era.
American Bald Eagles are the largest birds in America, and they can only be found in North America. Adult species have a brown plumage, which is white on the head, tail and wing tips. American Bald Eagles have a downward-curved beak, keen eyes and very sharp talons. Immature Bald Eagles do not have white on the head. Therefore, they are often mistaken for Golden Eagles. Being monogamous, they form families for lifetime, and both the male and the female take care of the eaglets. Parents are very protective around their nests and young. Nests are very large, measuring about 7 ft in diameter, 12 ft deep and weighing around 1 tons. One Bald Eagle Nest that was found in Florida was 20 ft high, over 9 ft in diameter, and it weighed 3 tons!
