Nature Photos of the Week

February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day!

Eagles! Eagles! Everywhere!

Make Your Reservations Now!

From now through March 16, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10AM, and Saturdays and Sundays

at 9AM and 11AM, Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS) is again sponsoring numerous boats, departing from Essex, to view eagles wintering along the Connecticut River. Bald Eagles and occasionally Golden Eagles, can be found along the lower river, where this wintering ground is host to the largest concentration of eagles in the Northeast; as many as 100 individuals. Aboard the boats will be naturalists from CAS to assist in identification and to help distinguish the birds’ different ages. Our vessels have a large heated cabin, restroom, and open decks. Tours are approximately one and three quarters hours in length. Be among the first to reserve your spots for this winter adventure! Fee: $40. The Eagle Festival Weekend is Feb.16 & 17. Call 1-800-996-8747 for reservations.

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America that is most recognizable as the national bird and symbol of the United States . This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle . Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States , and northern Mexico . It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting.

 

© 2007 Gary Melnysyn

The Bald Eagle is a large bird, with a body length of 28–38 in, a wingspan of 66–88 in, and a weight 6.6–14 lb; females are about 25 percent larger than males. The adult Bald Eagle has a brown body with a white head and tail, and bright yellow irises , taloned feet, and a hooked beak ; juveniles are completely brown except for the yellow feet. Males and females are identical in plumage coloration. Its diet consists mainly of fish , but it is an opportunistic feeder. It hunts fish by swooping down and snatching the fish out of the water with its talons. It is sexually mature at four years or five years of age. The Bald Eagle builds the largest nest of any North American bird, up to 4 meters (13 ft) deep, 2.5 meters (8 ft) wide, and 1.1 tons in weight.

 

© 2007 Mathias Kohring

 

The species was on the brink of extirpation in the continental United States (while flourishing in much of Alaska and Canada) late in the 20th century, but now has a stable population and has been officially removed from the US federal government's list of endangered species. The Bald Eagle was officially reclassified from "Endangered" to "Threatened" on July 12 , 1995 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. On July 6 , 1999 , a proposal was initiated "To Remove the Bald Eagle in the Lower 48 States From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife."

It was delisted on June 28 , 2007 .