| The American Bald Eagle was unofficially
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| | days, usually hatching in late May or
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| chosen as a National Symbol in 1872, when
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| | early June), monitoring the nest, and
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| the Constitution of the United States was
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| | brooding/feeding the eaglets until they
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| ratified. It was not officially
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| | are large enough to fly and leave the
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| nominated as such until 1788. There was
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| | nest. This occurs when the eaglets are
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| a heated debate, led by the great
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| | about 12 weeks old. They develop special
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| statesman Benjamin Franklin, about this
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| | flight feathers, which make them look
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| bird becoming the National Bird. Mr.
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| | larger than their parents, that serve as
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| Franklin wanted the turkey which he
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| | extra balance (sort of like training
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| thought better symbolized the clean,
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| | wheels on a bicycle) while they learn to
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| honest, and more straightforward ideals
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| | fly.Hatchlings are light grey when born,
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| of the American people. His bid was
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| | and turn dark brown before leaving the
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| lost, however, in 1789 when George
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| | nest. Young adults have brown and white
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| Washington became the first President of
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| | mottled feathers beneath their wings
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| the USA, and the Bald Eagle was
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| | until they reach 5 years of age. At 5
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| officially adopted as the "First
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| | years, the head and tail feathers turn
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| Bird".The American Bald Eagle is the only
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| | white. The mature bird is not actually
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| eagle which is native to North America
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| | bald. "Bald", at one time, meant
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| and it's only on its native continent
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| | "white". Thus the name, "bald eagle".
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| that one may find it. Alaska, the 49th
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| | Between the fourth and fifth years, the
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| State admitted to the Union, is home to
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| | beak and eyes take on the distinctive
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| about 35,000 of the 70,000 total
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| | yellow color. To see a mature Bald Eagle
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| population. British Columbia boasts
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| | up close is awe-inspiring. To see one in
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| about 20,000, and the rest predominantly
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| | flight is an experience to cherish for a
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| inhabit the Pacific coastline, with a few
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| | lifetime.Preservation EffortsIn spite of
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| scattered throughout the rest of the
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| | the "National Symbols Act" and the "Bald
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| United States. Population is heaviest in
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| | and Gold Eagle Preservation Act," which
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| the Pacific Northwest due, in part, to
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| | were both passed in 1940, the Bald Eagle
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| the large amount of salmon found there.
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| | population declined rapidly because
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| Eagles depend greatly on fish as a main
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| | farmers killed them for fear of the harm
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| part of their diets. They will eat small
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| | that they could do to their livestock.
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| animals such as mice, rabbits, muskrats,
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| | Hunters and poachers killed them as
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| duck and snakes and they will resort to
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| | trophies and for profit, and many were
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| eating carrion (dead animals), if
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| | killed accidentally. This seriously
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| necessary. However, they prefer that
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| | alarmed preservationists. Therefore the
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| their food be of a fresh source and they
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| | American Bald Eagle was officially
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| are partial to fish.While Bald Eagle are
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| | declared an "Endangered Species" in 1947,
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| capable of carrying their food in flight,
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| | under a law which preceded the
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| they can actually only lift about half of
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| | "Endangered Species Act" of 1973. Until
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| their body weight. Although they can
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| | 1995, they were listed as endangered in
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| dive, catch fish in the water, and swim
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| | 43 of the 48 contiguous United States.
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| to shore with them, they have also been
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| | Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon,
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| known to drown if the fish is too big and
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| | and Washington State listed them as
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| they don't let go of it.The body length,
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| | "threatened". In 1995, the US Fish and
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| for both males and females, ranges
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| | Wildlife Service (USFWS) upgraded their
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| between 29 and 42 inches (73.66 to 106.68
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| | status to threatened in the other 43
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| centimeters). The male is usually
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| | states.In February of 2006 an
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| between 7 and 9 pounds (.497 to .639
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| | announcement was made that the USFWS had
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| stone) and has a wingspan which can
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| | issued guidelines on how the species
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| exceed 6 feet (1.83 meters). The female
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| | should be protected by landowners and
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| is larger and can weigh up to 14 pounds
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| | others, once the bird is no longer listed
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| (.99 stone). She can have a wingspan of
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| | as a threatened species. Those
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| up to 8 feet (2.44 meters).In level
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| | guidelines include proposals for laws
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| flight, the Bald Eagle has been recorded
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| | which prohibit disrupting the bird's
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| at speeds up to 44 miles per hour (70.1
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| | breeding, sheltering, or feeding
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| kmp). It can dive (and has been clocked)
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| | practices or disturbing it in any manner
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| at speeds of 75 to 100 mph (120.68 to
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| | which could cause injury, death, or nest
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| 160.39 kmp). The eagle is capable of
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| | abandonment. Should those proposals be
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| riding the thermal air currents in excess
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| | solidified and approved, it could lead to
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| of 10000 feet (3048 meters) and can stay
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| | the removal of the Bald Eagle from the
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| aloft doing this for hours at a time.This
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| | "threatened" list.It should be noted that
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| species of bird mates for life, and will
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| | even if the new guidelines are approved,
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| only seek another mate if their "spouse"
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| | the American Bald Eagle is still
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| dies. They build an "eyrie (also spelled
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| | protected under the "Migratory Bird
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| aerie)" in which they incubate their eggs
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| | Treaty Act", the "Bald and Gold Eagle
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| and raise their eaglets until those leave
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| | Preservation Act", and the "National
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| the nest at 12 weekS. An eyrie, or nest,
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| | Symbols Act". It is illegal to possess,
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| can be built in the tops of giant trees
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| | take, barter, trade, sell, transport,
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| (quite often aspens) or on a ledge of a
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| | import, or export eagles. And it is
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| mountain. The eagles habitually add to
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| | illegal to collect eagles or their body
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| their nests until they reach up to 10
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| | parts, nests, or eggs without a special
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| feet (2.54 meters) in diameter. The
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| | permit. Possession of a feather, or
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| eyries are lined with soft materials such
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| | other body parts, is a felony which can
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| as leaves, feathers, and moss to provide
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| | carry a fine up to $10,000 USD and/or
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| a suitable area for incubating the eggs
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| | imprisonment and this is very strictly
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| once the female lays them.The eggs are
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| | enforced. However, federally recognized
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| usually laid at the end of April,
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| | Native Americans are still permitted to
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| following a fascinating "courtship dance"
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| | possess those emblems which are
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| in early April, which the eagles perform
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| | traditional to their culture.One can
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| in midair. They dive and climb, and look
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| | learn more about these magnificent,
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| to be attacking (locking talons, or claws
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| | beautiful, and majestic birds and how to
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| with) each other during this flight
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| | help with the continuing preservation
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| sequence.After the eggs are laid, the
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| | efforts by visiting the many websites
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| male and the female take turns in
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| | devoted to them.
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| hunting, incubating the eggs (34 to 35
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