American Bald Eagle
(Haliaeetus Leucocephalus)
The Bald Eagle can be found from Alaska to the
northern border of Mexico and from Pacific to
Atlantic coast. It is the ONLY eagle that is found
exclusively on the North American continent. It is a
true "native American". It is a very large and
powerful bird, males weighing from 7 - 10 pounds
with wingspans of more than 6 feet, and females
weighing up to 14 pounds with wingspans up to 8 feet.
Bald eagles mate for life and build large nests that
are used year after year. Often the annual nest-
preparation includes additional construction
increasing the size of an already large nest. In time
some nests have been known to reach 10 feet in diameter.
Female eagles lay two or three eggs each year which
hatch after an incubation period of about 35 days.
Within about three months the young eaglets are
capable of flight and quickly learn to hunt and fend
for themselves. The white crown that makes the
bald eagle so quickly recognizable, along with its
white tail feathers, do not appear until the eagles
reach 4 or 5 years of age. Bald eagles normally live
up to a thirty year time span.
Bald eagles are protected under the National
Emblem Act of 1940, also known as the Bald Eagle
Protection Act. They were further protected under
the Endangered Species Act, and stiff penalties are
imposed for killing, harassing, possessing or selling
bald eagles. Special permits are issued to zoos
and other institutions that protect and breed
the magnificent birds in captivity.
Spirit / Courage
Eagle feathers are used all over the world as
ceremonial instruments and are considered to be the
most sacred healing tools. They are a symbol of
power, healingand wisdom. Eagle represents a state
of grace that is reached through inner work,
understanding and passing the initiation tests that
result from reclaiming our personal power.
Eagle Medicine is the Power of the Great Spirit. It is
the spirit of tenacity. It is the gift of clear vision with
which one can truly see the things one sees. It is the
patience to wait for the appropriate moment. It is to
live in balance with heaven and earth.
Eagle reminds you of your connection with the Great
Spirit. It tells you that the universe is giving you the
opportunity to fly above your life's worldly levels, or
above the shadow of past realities. Eagle teaches you
to look above in order to touch Grandfather Sun with
your heart, to love the Shadow as much as the Light.
Eagle asks you to grant yourself permission to be free
in order to reach the joy that your heart desires.
Bald Eagle's Wisdom Includes:
Swiftness
Courage
Keen sight
Healing
Knowledge of magick
Rising above the material
to see the spiritual
Connection to spirit guides
and teachers
Dignity with grace
Connection with higher truths
Respect for the boundaries
of the regions
Grace achieved trough
knowledge and hard work
WILD BALD EAGLES LIVE AS LONG AS 30 YEARS, BUT THE
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IS 15 TO 20 YEARS. THE FEATHERS WEIGH
TWICE AS MUCH AS THE BONES. THE BONES ARE HOLLOW
AND THEREFORE EXTREMELY LIGHTWEIGHT, MAKING
THEM SUITABLE FOR FLIGHT.
THE TAIL OF A BALD EAGLE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR FLIGHT AND
MANEUVERING. WHILE SOARING, A BALD EAGLE SPREADS ITS
TAILFEATHERS TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM SURFACE AREA, THEREBY
ASSISTING IT IN "LIFT" FROM THERMALS AND UPDRAFTS. THE TAIL
ALSO ACTS AS A "BRAKE" WHEN LANDING AND ASSISTS IN
STABILIZATION DURING A CONTROLLED DIVE.
BALD EAGLES MATE FOR LIFE. HOWEVER, IF ONE DIES, THE
SURVIVOR WILL NOT HESITATE TO ACCEPT A NEW MATE. SOME
ADULTS, THOUGH PAIRED, CHOOSE NOT TO BREED. CHOOSING
NOT TO BREED MAY BE A RESULT OF FOOD SUPPLY OR
AVAILABILITY OF NESTING SITES.
NOT UNTIL 1940, WHEN THE BALD EAGLE ACT WAS
SIGNED, WAS THE KILLING OF BALD EAGLES IN THE
LOWER 48 STATES PROHIBITED. IN ALASKA, FROM 1917 TO
1945, AND AGAIN FROM 1949 TO 1953, A BOUNTY OF $.50 TO
$2.00 WAS PAID FOR EACH PAIR OF FEET, RESULTING IN
100,000 EAGLES BEING KILLED.
EAGLES HAVE EXCELLENT EYESIGHT. LIGHT RAYS
ARE FOCUSED ON THE RETINA IN TWO AREAS AS COMPARED TO
ONE AREA IN HUMANS. THIS ALLOWS THE EAGLE TO SEE
FORWARD AND TO THE SIDE AT THE SAME TIME. THE
RETINA IN THE EAGLE HAS A FAR GREATER NUMBER OF
RODS AND CONES AS COMPARED TO THE HUMAN EYE,
GIVING THE EAGLE MUCH GREATER RESOLVING POWER.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN IN MISSOURI
AND ILLINOIS WITHIN A 60-MINUTE DRIVE OF
THE METRO ST. LOUIS AREA.
