Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
The "bald" in this eagle's name comes from the Old English word, "balde," which means "white." And here is a little more insight, thanks to the History Channel, as to how the eagle became the nation's symbol.
Bald eagles are found all throughout North America. The birds you may see in somewhere such as Alaska are quite a bit bigger than the birds you may encounter here in Florida. In Florida, the eagles do not encounter the same extreme cold temperatures as Alaska. On average, the birds you find here may range from 6 to 9 pounds. In Alaska, they may weigh up to 13 pounds, maybe even a little more than that! When temperatures drop, food becomes harder to find. Having those reserves comes in handy if an eagle misses a day or two of being able to catch dinner.
The species was threatened in the 1960's and 1970's, here in the lower 48 states due to the use of the pesticide DDT. Eagles were exposed to the pesticide by consuming prey that had come in direct contact with the substance. This later affected the eggs laid by female eagles. The shells were very thin and broke easily. Many eggs did not survive.
On the upside, the population has been fairing well over the last number of years. According to an avid birdwatcher volunteer, they say Pinellas County has approximately between 40 or 50 active nesting sites. (That's a big number!)
Bald eagles live up to 25 years in the wild, and anywhere up to 50 years in human care. Our resident bald eagle, Sarge, came to us when she was 5 years old back in April of 2016. She has many years with us ahead of her!
There are lots of other fun facts that haven't been shared here... so why not come over and visit us at the park and we can talk more about birds!
The "bald" in this eagle's name comes from the Old English word, "balde," which means "white." And here is a little more insight, thanks to the History Channel, as to how the eagle became the nation's symbol.
Bald eagles are found all throughout North America. The birds you may see in somewhere such as Alaska are quite a bit bigger than the birds you may encounter here in Florida. In Florida, the eagles do not encounter the same extreme cold temperatures as Alaska. On average, the birds you find here may range from 6 to 9 pounds. In Alaska, they may weigh up to 13 pounds, maybe even a little more than that! When temperatures drop, food becomes harder to find. Having those reserves comes in handy if an eagle misses a day or two of being able to catch dinner.
The species was threatened in the 1960's and 1970's, here in the lower 48 states due to the use of the pesticide DDT. Eagles were exposed to the pesticide by consuming prey that had come in direct contact with the substance. This later affected the eggs laid by female eagles. The shells were very thin and broke easily. Many eggs did not survive.
On the upside, the population has been fairing well over the last number of years. According to an avid birdwatcher volunteer, they say Pinellas County has approximately between 40 or 50 active nesting sites. (That's a big number!)
Bald eagles live up to 25 years in the wild, and anywhere up to 50 years in human care. Our resident bald eagle, Sarge, came to us when she was 5 years old back in April of 2016. She has many years with us ahead of her!
There are lots of other fun facts that haven't been shared here... so why not come over and visit us at the park and we can talk more about birds!
Sarge
Sarge was found, dehydrated and starving, by a group of hikers in Kentucky. She was transported to a rehabilitation facility that helped stabilize her condition before transporting her to another facility to attempt to condition her for re-release. When she was deemed unreleasable, Sarge became part of the bird of prey educational program here at The Narrows. It is believed that she has a genetic feather condition that impairs her ability to properly grow feathers. Sometimes the feathers grow in crooked or corkscrew-shaped, other times they break very easily. The specifics of this condition are not yet known to us. To donate to Sarge's care, click the button below: |