By Dr. Sonnya Crawford
The bald eagle is a bird of prey found only in North America. They range throughout the United States, most of Canada and parts of Mexico. They are large birds, dwarfing other raptors such as the red-tailed hawk and turkey vulture.
The bald eagle is not only the national bird, but also the national animal of the United States.
Since they mate for life, bald eagles are typically counted as pairs, not as single birds. They pair up at 4 to 5 years of age. If one member of a pair dies, the other bird will find a new mate. Their courtship behavior is elaborate and beautiful, including swoops, chases and vocalization. They fly high, grasp talons and free-fall, spinning and tumbling downward. As they near the ground, they separate.
Adult males may also engage in talon grasps during territorial disputes.
Both sexes participate in nest building. They frequently have an alternate nest in their breeding territory and may switch from year to year. Each year they repair and may add to their nests, which can be as deep as 13 feet and as wide as 8 feet — and weigh more than a ton.
In western Washington, eggs are laid in March and hatch in April. Both parents participate in raising the young.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology website indicates that the oldest bald eagle on record in the wild lived to be 39. Eagles in captivity may live even longer.
The bald eagle is considered sacred and shown the deepest respect by many Native American cultures — sometimes as spiritual messengers between gods and humans. The bird’s large black-and-white feathers are central to many religious and spiritual customs.
In the mid-20th century, bald eagles were on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 412 nesting pairs remaining in the continental United States. This was largely due to the pesticide DDT, which caused soft-shelled eggs that would not hatch. Habitat loss and illegal shooting of this majestic bird also contributed to their population decline.
Vigorous regulations centered on banning DDT and protecting critical habitat have led to a remarkable comeback for the species. In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the federal Endangered Species List. Today, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, there are more than 250,000 in North America and Mexico.
On Grays Harbor, we have an organization dedicated to providing research and education programs leading to better understanding and conservation of bald eagles and other raptors. Coastal Raptors, headed by Dr. Dan Varland, has been active since 1995 and achieved nonprofit 501(c)3 status in 2009.
The organization’s goals are to:
• Conduct scientific research and monitoring on raptors along coastlines;
• Provide education programs on coastal raptors and the coastal environment;
• Train wildlife biologists in the tools and techniques needed to survey, capture and mark raptors along coastlines; and
• Collaborate with experts in wildlife research and management on developing, monitoring and sharing best management practices for coastal raptors.
For more information, visit CoastalRaptors.com.
Sonnya Crawford, DVM, is a veterinarian at Grays Harbor Veterinary Services in Montesano. Her pets include two cats, numerous parrots, a giant bunny and saltwater fish. Her special interests are in avian medicine, veterinary dermatology and dentistry. Reach her at drsonnya@gmail.com.
