Bald Eagle Research Paper
Bald Eagles The Bald Eagle, also known as the “Haliaeetus leucocephalus” (Hamish 1990) is one of the most majestic and spectacular birds on the planet. With a wingspan of 6 to 8 feet and a height of 34-43 cm (Duquette at al.2011) it is one of the world’s largest birds. The Bald Eagle represents the country of The United States of America because it is one of the most beautiful and symbolic creatures on the planet, yet it was once almost completely extinct. The Bald Eagle is mostly found in coastal areas and gets its name because of its white head. Bald eagles have huge talons and curved peak. They also have excellent eye sight so that they can scope out their prey from a distance, scoop in, and grab them (Robert 1982). Since they are carnivores, their main source of food is fish such a salmon, but they also tend to prey on other animals such as mammals and other birds (Stalmaster 1987). Although, due to the Endangered Species Preservation Act, These bird’s flourish in the upper part of North America such as Alaska and Canada, they are still recognized as Threatened because of habitat loss and pollution by pesticides such as DDT. Nevertheless the species is making a
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recovery from almost being extinct in the 1970’s and early 80’s (worldwildlife.org 2011). Bald eagle’s first gained protection from being endangered by the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) in 1972. 1972 was also the year in which DDT was banned for a variety of reasons. (Fish and Wildlife Services 2007). A study done in northwest Ontario proved that DDT was affecting the reproduction of Bald Eagles in an extremely negative way. Reproduction of the Bald eagle reduced from 1.26 young per breeding in 1966 to .46 young per breeding in 1974. Fortunately, due to the ban of DDT, it shot back up to 1.12 young per breeding in 1981. This confirmed the fact that DDT was interrupting the reproduction cycles of Bald Eagles in North America (Grier 1982).
The DDT was not deadly or fatal to the bird itself, but would interrupt their calcium intake causing them to lay eggs that couldn’t hatch properly. In other words, the shell of the egg wouldn’t be healthy and wouldn’t hatch properly. DDE and DDT are not the only chemicals which affected the bald eagle population. Other contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans along with numerous other toxins and metals such as lead and mercury poisoned young eagles causing a huge decline in population (Elliot and Harris 2001).
Pesticides such as DDT are not the only reason Bald Eagles were once almost at the point of extinction.
Biologists predict that up 500,000 bald eagles soared the skies of North America before colonization of the continent occurred. Due to human expansion, they have had to deal with habitat reduction and pollution. European settlement only made things harder for the Bald Eagle because they are limited in habitat due to their preference in living near coastal areas so they can feed on fish. In addition habitat reduction, logger’s duties of cutting trees down and demolition of forests in which the Eagles flourished made things even more difficult for the Bald Eagle, it is even said that people were paid to hunt Bald Eagles between 1917 and 1953 and pay by the government to do so (pbs.org
2008).
Americans finally decided to make an effort to save the beloved creature which represented the nation. With the Endangered Species Act of 1973, efforts to save this magnificent bird were starting to take place. Due to Alaska’s low human population, eagles flourished in the northern region of the United States, but there were said to be less than 1,000 pairs of breeding eagles in the lower 48 states which had classified them as endangered. By 1978 though, only 43 states had classified them as endangered while the other 5 classified them as threatened (pbs.org 2008).This meant that things were finally starting to improve for the bald eagle.
Doris Mager, also known as the Florida’s eagle lady, was one of the world’s biggest preservationist of Bald Eagles. Doris is now 74 years old and still works to help conserve the raptors (birds of prey) population. Since 1974, she was known for going around the country in her van with eagles and showing them to different children at schools to show them how beautiful they are and why they are worth preserving. She would often show Eagles that had been injured by humans and would demonstrate how guns ruin these animal’s lives (smokymountainnews.com 2011). Organizations such as world wild life (WWF) also help preserve Bald Eagles habitat and lives by implementing an adoption concept to where different communities can donate money to help save not only Bald Eagles, but other even more endangered species (worldwilflife.org.
Bald Eagles are an essential species in our eco-system because they are at the top of the food chain and prey off species that would be over populated if not fed on. Small species such as ducks, muskrats, rabbits and even turtles are all part of a Bald Eagles diet. Bald eagles are also responsible for scavenging animals that are already dead (Hamish 1990). If there weren’t any raptors, preditorial birds, then there wouldn’t be balance in their particular eco-system which is usually swamps, lakes and coastlines. Bald Eagles keep the eco-system at a natural state of balance, without Bald Eagles eating off mice, rabbits and rats there would be a more noticeable destruction in our crops and agriculture. If prey populations grow too much, there is a possibility of serious habitat destruction which would affect all the other species in that eco system. Since Bald Eagles are at the top of the food pyramid, they’re population gives us a good indication of whether or not the underlying eco-system is doing well or not. Without carnivores at the top of the food pyramid, we would have to go back to using pesticides in our crops because of all the destruction rodents and other small mammals would cause which would only cause more problems for the Bald Eagle. The best thing we can do is preserve these magnificent creatures so that they can do their duties in the eco-system and prey on animals that reproduce too rapidly and destroy our agriculture (Duquette et al.)
Fortunately, Bald Eagles have made a huge rebound in terms of population size. Thanks to the efforts of wild life conservationists, the Bald Eagle are estimated to be much more abundant at a population of 12,000 with 2,000 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states. Now, since there has been such an improvement in eagle population, the species has officially been downgraded from endangered to threatened by the United States Government as of 1994 (pbs.org 2008). As of 2007, the Department of Fish and Wildlife service’s says there are up to 9789 breeding pairs in the lower 48 states (Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2007). Raptors are an essential part of nature and a distinguished bird in terms of size and elegance. People need to respect the habitat that these creatures call home because they are a huge part of our eco-system. It’s great that the bald eagle has made such a huge comeback because it was chose by America’s founding fathers as the national bird not only because of its beauty, but also because of its superiority over other creatures. It would be a shame if these animals were to be gone forever especially since they represent our country and play such a huge role on our planet.
Work Cited
Anthony, Robert. “Habitat Use by Nesting and Roosting Bald Eagles in the Pacific Northwest." US Fish & Wildlife Publication. (1982): 342. Web. 16 Feb. 2012.
recovery from almost being extinct in the 1970’s and early 80’s (worldwildlife.org 2011). Bald eagle’s first gained protection from being endangered by the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) in 1972. 1972 was also the year in which DDT was banned for a variety of reasons. (Fish and Wildlife Services 2007). A study done in northwest Ontario proved that DDT was affecting the reproduction of Bald Eagles in an extremely negative way. Reproduction of the Bald eagle reduced from 1.26 young per breeding in 1966 to .46 young per breeding in 1974. Fortunately, due to the ban of DDT, it shot back up to 1.12 young per breeding in 1981. This confirmed the fact that DDT was interrupting the reproduction cycles of Bald Eagles in North America (Grier 1982).
The DDT was not deadly or fatal to the bird itself, but would interrupt their calcium intake causing them to lay eggs that couldn’t hatch properly. In other words, the shell of the egg wouldn’t be healthy and wouldn’t hatch properly. DDE and DDT are not the only chemicals which affected the bald eagle population. Other contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans along with numerous other toxins and metals such as lead and mercury poisoned young eagles causing a huge decline in population (Elliot and Harris 2001).
Pesticides such as DDT are not the only reason Bald Eagles were once almost at the point of extinction.
Biologists predict that up 500,000 bald eagles soared the skies of North America before colonization of the continent occurred. Due to human expansion, they have had to deal with habitat reduction and pollution. European settlement only made things harder for the Bald Eagle because they are limited in habitat due to their preference in living near coastal areas so they can feed on fish. In addition habitat reduction, logger’s duties of cutting trees down and demolition of forests in which the Eagles flourished made things even more difficult for the Bald Eagle, it is even said that people were paid to hunt Bald Eagles between 1917 and 1953 and pay by the government to do so (pbs.org
2008).
Americans finally decided to make an effort to save the beloved creature which represented the nation. With the Endangered Species Act of 1973, efforts to save this magnificent bird were starting to take place. Due to Alaska’s low human population, eagles flourished in the northern region of the United States, but there were said to be less than 1,000 pairs of breeding eagles in the lower 48 states which had classified them as endangered. By 1978 though, only 43 states had classified them as endangered while the other 5 classified them as threatened (pbs.org 2008).This meant that things were finally starting to improve for the bald eagle.
Doris Mager, also known as the Florida’s eagle lady, was one of the world’s biggest preservationist of Bald Eagles. Doris is now 74 years old and still works to help conserve the raptors (birds of prey) population. Since 1974, she was known for going around the country in her van with eagles and showing them to different children at schools to show them how beautiful they are and why they are worth preserving. She would often show Eagles that had been injured by humans and would demonstrate how guns ruin these animal’s lives (smokymountainnews.com 2011). Organizations such as world wild life (WWF) also help preserve Bald Eagles habitat and lives by implementing an adoption concept to where different communities can donate money to help save not only Bald Eagles, but other even more endangered species (worldwilflife.org.
Bald Eagles are an essential species in our eco-system because they are at the top of the food chain and prey off species that would be over populated if not fed on. Small species such as ducks, muskrats, rabbits and even turtles are all part of a Bald Eagles diet. Bald eagles are also responsible for scavenging animals that are already dead (Hamish 1990). If there weren’t any raptors, preditorial birds, then there wouldn’t be balance in their particular eco-system which is usually swamps, lakes and coastlines. Bald Eagles keep the eco-system at a natural state of balance, without Bald Eagles eating off mice, rabbits and rats there would be a more noticeable destruction in our crops and agriculture. If prey populations grow too much, there is a possibility of serious habitat destruction which would affect all the other species in that eco system. Since Bald Eagles are at the top of the food pyramid, they’re population gives us a good indication of whether or not the underlying eco-system is doing well or not. Without carnivores at the top of the food pyramid, we would have to go back to using pesticides in our crops because of all the destruction rodents and other small mammals would cause which would only cause more problems for the Bald Eagle. The best thing we can do is preserve these magnificent creatures so that they can do their duties in the eco-system and prey on animals that reproduce too rapidly and destroy our agriculture (Duquette et al.)
Fortunately, Bald Eagles have made a huge rebound in terms of population size. Thanks to the efforts of wild life conservationists, the Bald Eagle are estimated to be much more abundant at a population of 12,000 with 2,000 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states. Now, since there has been such an improvement in eagle population, the species has officially been downgraded from endangered to threatened by the United States Government as of 1994 (pbs.org 2008). As of 2007, the Department of Fish and Wildlife service’s says there are up to 9789 breeding pairs in the lower 48 states (Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2007). Raptors are an essential part of nature and a distinguished bird in terms of size and elegance. People need to respect the habitat that these creatures call home because they are a huge part of our eco-system. It’s great that the bald eagle has made such a huge comeback because it was chose by America’s founding fathers as the national bird not only because of its beauty, but also because of its superiority over other creatures. It would be a shame if these animals were to be gone forever especially since they represent our country and play such a huge role on our planet.
Work Cited
Anthony, Robert. “Habitat Use by Nesting and Roosting Bald Eagles in the Pacific Northwest." US Fish & Wildlife Publication. (1982): 342. Web. 16 Feb. 2012.