I like to add a little good news to our posts, especially for our younger visitors to show that environmental issues can be changed for the better if enough people care and try to make their voices heard over all the noice that’s put up as smoke screens.

Bald Eagle quote – “About time, we hate being on lists”

Footage of our great american treasure, the bald eagle. Thanks to the Endangered Species Act, bald eagle populations have grown from less than 500 breeding pairs to almost 8,000.

See the video below:

The bald eagle, America’s national symbol, is flying high after spending three decades in recovery.

The government took the eagle off the Endangered Species Act’s “threatened” list.

I would like to see us have more days like this when we can announce success and victory and delisting of species.”

Bald Eagle in Flight

Since the 1970s, the government has worked hard to save the bald eagle, which was dying off because of habitat destruction, illegal shooting and contamination of its food source.

It was first listed as endangered, then threatened, and now is off the list entirely.

Bald eagle populations severely declined in the lower 48 states between 1870 and 1970 because of hunting, habitat loss and the use of DDT.

DDT, a powerful insecticide, made bald eagle eggshells so weak they couldn’t produce viable offspring.

For the full story go to … CNN

OK, we have given you the good news about the plight of – Bald eagles, so you are probably now waiting for the ‘Bald Eagle facts for kids’, so let’s get on with it.

Bald Eagle Facts for Kids number 1.

Description

•     Adult bald eagles are dark brown to black with a white head and tail and a yellow beak and feet.
•     They have a wingspan of up two and a half meters.
•     Bald eagles are light and strong.
•     They can travel up to 48 kph and dive at up to 160 kph.

Bald Eagle perched in tree

Bald Eagle Facts for Kids number 2.

Behavior

•     Bald eagles are usually solitary, but are sometimes found in small flocks.
•     Bald eagles mate for life, but sometimes spend part of the year away from each other.
•     Most bald eagles migrate during the winter to a different feeding ground.

Bald Eagle Facts for Kids number 3.

Food

• Bald eagles eat mostly fish, but will also feed on small mammals and water birds.
• They are at the top of their food chain.

Bald Eagle Facts for Kids number 4.

Life Cycle

• Female bald eagles lay one to three eggs in the spring.
• After 12 to 15 weeks, the baby eagles leave the nest.
• Bald eagles are adults when they are 4 years old.
• Bald eagles live 20-30 years in the wild but can live up to 60 in captivity.

Bald Eagle Facts for Kids number 5.

Habitat

• Bald eagles can be found all over North America, but prefer to live near water, usually on the coast or around wetlands.
• They make nests in tall trees, near water.
• Adult bald eagles have no known predators, but young eagles in the nest are sometimes preyed on by ravens, raccoons, and crows.

Bald Eagle Facts for Kids number 6.

Bald eagle landing

Status

At one time there were only about 2,000 bald eagles.  They were threatened by overhunting and pollution.
Thanks to protection and breeding programs, there are now about 35,000 bald eagles.

The facts above were sourced from Globio a seriously good education site for younger people!

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