Bald+Eagle

**__The Bald Eagle__**
The range of the bald eagle is from central Alaska through Eastern Canada and south through almost the entire United States. This magnificent symbol of the United States became endangered due to habitat loss, hunting and pesticide contamination. Government protection along with captive breeding and reintroduction programs have allowed populations to rebound. The bald eagle is a bird of prey, hunting for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. Their primary diet is fish. Bald eagles mate for life and build large platform nests, each year new sticks are added to the nests. One nest was found to weigh over two tons. Young bald eagles are primarily brown, but will begin to show white feathers on the head and tail at about 3 years of age. By 5 or 6 years of age, eagles have a full head, neck and tail of over 7,000 white feathers. Unlike other animals, the female bald eagle is typically larger than the males and can weigh up to 8-12 pounds with a wing span of up to 8 feet. The male bald eagle can weigh 6-10 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 6 feet. These bald eagles on exhibit are unfortunatley injured and are unable to fly, therefore unable to be released back into the wild. By: Samaris Cruz


 * __Resouces:__**

Barghusen, John. __The Bald Eage__. San Diego : Lucent Books Inc., 1999.

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