Bald Eagle -- Haliaeetus leucocephalus
We are indeed fortunate to see the return of the Bald Eagle from a
rare and endangered species to numbers that may allow them to be removed from
the Endangered Species listing. There were 269 nesting pairs in Maine
in 2001 compared to 21 nesting pairs in 1963. Several pairs are found
nesting in the Damariscotta Lake area.
Food
Piracy is a common way of procuring food. Diet may be 80% fish, usually
slower moving fish. Will feed on waterfowl, particularly winter stressed,
sick or injured. They will feed on carrion, e.g. deer carcasses in
the winter. Eagles move to the coast or rapid-moving rivers in winter
as ice covers inland lakes.
Special Adaptations
Eagles are large birds, weighing 8 - 15 pounds, with a 7-foot wingspan.
Females are larger than the males. They are often seen perched in
large trees with strong horizontal branches offering unobstructed
views. They have excellent eyesight.
Nesting
Pair for life. Nest is a large stick nest in a high tree usually isolated
from human disturbance Raise on average 2 young. Incubation about
35 days.
Eagles are five years old when they reach breeding age. Young bald
eagles undergo as many as six plumage changes before getting their
adult plumage at five or six years. Young raptor's flight and tail
feathers are longer than adults to compensate for lack of flying experience.
However, more than 90% of eagles that fledge do not survive to adulthood.
Nearly 60% die during their first year, usually due to starvation.
Eagles may live up to 10+ years in the wild and have been known to live past
45 years in captivity.
Threats to their survival
- Loss of habitat
- Pollution causing fish mortality
- Human disturbance while nesting
- Bioaccumulation: toxins collect in the tissues of animals at the top of the food chain
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