Little Eagle Puppet by Folkmanis
FACTS OF INTEREST:
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the Bald Eagle did not get its name because of the white feathers on its head make it appear bald but because the name comes from the Old English word “balde” meaning white
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eagles are birds of prey – they hunt for live food using their impressive sight, sharp beaks and claws and masterful flying agility
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eagles have both monocular and binocular vision, meaning that they can clearly see forward, to the side and a bit behind them
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bald eagles eat mostly fish, but also prey on small mammals, other smaller birds, frogs and snakes
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bald eagles can see their prey from up to 100 feet away and swoop down to attack at 100 mph!
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female bald eagles are slightly bigger than males – they have wingspans of 6-8 feet and weigh about 9 pounds
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the bald eagle became the national symbol of the US when it appeared on the Great Seal adopted by Congress in 1782. Ben Franklin argued that the turkey should have been chosen instead
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bald eagles were mearly hunted to extinction, but thanks to laws enacted for their protection their populations are on the rise
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they were added to the US Endangered Species List in 1967 and removed in 2007
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the life spand is about 20-30 years
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females lay 1-3 eggs per year, though it is rare that all 3 survive into adulthood
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their nest is the largest of any bird in North America
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parents often come back to the same nest every year to breed
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the largest Bald Eagle nest on record was 20 feet deep and weighed 2 tons
