The Bald Eagle The Bald Eagle

Michael ThomasMichael Thomas

Let’s talk a little taxonomy!Let’s talk a little taxonomy!

• Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)• Subfamily “Buteo”…..denoted by Subfamily “Buteo”…..denoted by

broad, rounded wings, heavy body, broad, rounded wings, heavy body, and broadly fanned tail.and broadly fanned tail.

• Also included are some of the hawks, Also included are some of the hawks, (Red-Tailed, Broad Winged) and the (Red-Tailed, Broad Winged) and the Golden Eagle.Golden Eagle.

• Family “Accipitridae”….or AccipitersFamily “Accipitridae”….or Accipiters

Biology and Life HistoryBiology and Life History

CarnivorousCarnivorousFeeds mainly on fish, but will Feeds mainly on fish, but will

scavenge and take other prey, scavenge and take other prey, such as fawn deer or other birdssuch as fawn deer or other birds

• Can attain a wingspan of 90”Can attain a wingspan of 90”• And a height of 42”And a height of 42”• Adults can weigh between 25 and 30 Adults can weigh between 25 and 30

pounds, although a slight percentage pounds, although a slight percentage of females may get a little heavier (an of females may get a little heavier (an Alaskan specimen weighed 32 ½ Alaskan specimen weighed 32 ½ pounds)pounds)

• Live 20-30 yrs.Live 20-30 yrs.• Can see 3-4 times better than peopleCan see 3-4 times better than people

Reproduction Reproduction

• Breeds at 4 yrs of age, but may be 5, when full Breeds at 4 yrs of age, but may be 5, when full adult plumage is reached.adult plumage is reached.

• Mating occurs December through February, with Mating occurs December through February, with eggs laid in late Feb. or early March.eggs laid in late Feb. or early March.

• Male and Female both incubateMale and Female both incubate• Usually hatch in 34-36 daysUsually hatch in 34-36 days• Young sprout feathers at 4-5 weeks, leave nest at Young sprout feathers at 4-5 weeks, leave nest at

9-12 weeks9-12 weeks• Mate for life, but if a partner dies, a new mate will Mate for life, but if a partner dies, a new mate will

be selectedbe selected• Mated pairs may not reproduce every yearMated pairs may not reproduce every year• Have spiraling dance for courtshipHave spiraling dance for courtship

Nest SelectionNest Selection

• Nests are used year after year by breeding Nests are used year after year by breeding pairspairs

• The largest nest of any bird in North The largest nest of any bird in North America…….nests grows larger yearly with America…….nests grows larger yearly with the addition of new material….may weigh the addition of new material….may weigh hundreds of pounds…..with nests up to 2 tons hundreds of pounds…..with nests up to 2 tons recordedrecorded

• Usually found in tall trees associated with Usually found in tall trees associated with shoreline, but will use cliff faces if appropriate shoreline, but will use cliff faces if appropriate ledges are availableledges are available

• Are NOT tolerant of human activityAre NOT tolerant of human activity• Very territorial Very territorial

• Very few natural predators Very few natural predators – Large size and top of the food chainLarge size and top of the food chain– Man???Man???

Horned and Snowy owls may take some Horned and Snowy owls may take some young birdsyoung birds

DistributionDistributionAll of the continental U.S. and most of Canada, ending southerly along the Rio Grande river

In Kentucky, most pairs nest along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. But some are located at Land Between the Lakes, Rolling Fork River, Rough River Lake, Yatesville Lake, and Laurel River Lake

Migrating Eagles are seen across the state

Are associated with wetlands because riverine, lucastrine, and palustrine systems have proven to be the primary habitat selected for

Migration Migration

Interior continental eagles migrate south to the central and southern U.S.

Coastal and Great Lakes eagles usually do not migrate….more feeding capability due to no ice-up

Threats Threats

• MAN!!!MAN!!!– Shooting takes em’ out……$1000 a birdShooting takes em’ out……$1000 a bird– Habitat loss…..let’s build some condos Habitat loss…..let’s build some condos

and a golf courseand a golf course– Chemicals…..pretty applesChemicals…..pretty apples– Disturbance…..dang touristsDisturbance…..dang tourists

What seems to have been the What seems to have been the problem?problem?

• First survey conducted in 1963 to First survey conducted in 1963 to assess the population. Why so long??assess the population. Why so long??

• Revealed that there were less than Revealed that there were less than 500 breeding pairs left in the wild.500 breeding pairs left in the wild.– Lacey ActLacey Act– Migratory Bird Treaty ActMigratory Bird Treaty Act– Bald Eagle Protection ActBald Eagle Protection Act

Things were Things were lookin’ grim!!lookin’ grim!!

1978- listed as endangered in 48 states

Threatened in five (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Washington, and Oregon)

Less than 250 “territories” were identified in 1977

DDT was the chemical of choice for Agriculture and had been for a decade

Restoration Efforts BeganRestoration Efforts Began

• The U.S.F.W.S. initiated Eagle recovery The U.S.F.W.S. initiated Eagle recovery measuresmeasures– With E.S.A. comes habitat acquisitionWith E.S.A. comes habitat acquisition– Habitat protection…….anywhere they Habitat protection…….anywhere they

build a nest is pretty much now a build a nest is pretty much now a sanctuarysanctuary

– Total protection?? That sure is a pretty Total protection?? That sure is a pretty head-dress there chief.head-dress there chief.

– Established recovery regions…..Established recovery regions…..

Recovery Recovery Regions Regions and their and their goalsgoals

Chesapeake recovery region: 300-400 nesting pairs w/1.1 young per pair for 5 years

Northern recovery region: 1200 breeding territories w/1.0 ypp

Pacific recovery region: 800 breeding territories w/1.0 ypp

Southeast recovery region: 600-800 nesting pairs w/1.1 ypp

Southwest recovery region: 300-400 nesting pairs w/1.0 ypp

Did the protection and mgt. Did the protection and mgt. work?work?

2239 breeding pairs in 1987

2680 in 1989

3747 in 1992

4712 in 1995

Iowa had 35 pairs in 1995 compared to 1 in 1985

Things are Things are lookin’ better!!!lookin’ better!!!All goals were met in 1992

The Bald Eagle was de-listed to Threatened status Aug. 12 1995

5500+ breeding pairs at that time

Population steady or growing in all recovery regions at the present…….except for the southwest

• How could have restoration efforts been so How could have restoration efforts been so successful?successful?– PoliticsPolitics– Huge media campaignHuge media campaign– NPO involvementNPO involvement

• And this led to……And this led to……– Ban on DDT and a closer look at other pesticides, Ban on DDT and a closer look at other pesticides,

fungicides, etc.fungicides, etc.– Increased public awareness of endangered specie biology Increased public awareness of endangered specie biology

(Think about just how important the Bald Eagle may be in (Think about just how important the Bald Eagle may be in that respect alone)that respect alone)

– Increased biological awareness of the impacts of man-Increased biological awareness of the impacts of man-made chemicalsmade chemicals

Let’s sum it upLet’s sum it up

• The Bald Eagle population is in much The Bald Eagle population is in much better shape than that of just a better shape than that of just a couple decades ago. (late 70’s)couple decades ago. (late 70’s)

• The plight of the Bald Eagle was very The plight of the Bald Eagle was very important in the fact that it awoke important in the fact that it awoke the public to the drastic effects of the public to the drastic effects of man on the planet (continental loss)man on the planet (continental loss)

Big Thanks To……Big Thanks To……

• GoogleGoogle

• KDFWR “AWAKE” program KDFWR “AWAKE” program

• Eaglesforever.comEaglesforever.com

• The Audubon SocietyThe Audubon Society

Any Questions?Any Questions?