American Bald Eagle Day

American Bald Eagle Day

American Bald Eagle Day

American Bald Eagle Day is observed and celebrated annually in the United States on June 20th.  It is also sometimes referred to as National Eagle Day.  It was created by the American Eagle Foundation in 1995.  It is a day to celebrate the national bird of the United States of America, which symbolizes our strength and freedom, and to just appreciate these incredible animals.  On June 20, 1782, the Second Continental Congress adopted the bald eagle as our national bird and it was added to the official seal of the United States of America.  In celebration of American Bald Eagle Day, I thought it would be fun to learn more about bald eagles.  So, here are some interesting and fun facts:

  1. They are a bird of prey found in North America;
  2. Their scientific name is Haliaeetus leucocephalus;
  3. They mainly eat fish, but also feed on waterfowl, turtles, rabbits, snakes and other small animals;
  4. They do not have natural predators, but their biggest threat is humans;
  5. They use their talons for hunting and protection;
  6. They can grip their talons at over 300 psi;
  7. They sometimes lock talons with other eagles when courting or defending territories and it is called talon grappling; and then they sometimes continue descending toward the ground in a spiral motion called cartwheeling;
  8. Male and female bald eagles mate for life (only finding a new mate if theirs dies);
  9. They take about 4-5 years to develop their white heads;
  10. They can fly at altitudes of 10,000 feet or more;
  11. They can fly 20-40 mph in normal flight and can dive at speeds of 75-100 mph;
  12. The female is larger than male;
  13. Adults measure from 30 to 40 inches from head to tail, with a 7-8 foot wingspan and weigh from 8-14 pounds;
  14. They live approximately 15-25 years in the wild and sometimes longer in captivity; and
  15. Their nests can weigh as much as a ton or more, as bald eagle pairs often use the same nest for decades and add new materials to it every year.

So, on June 20th, keep your eye on the sky and you just might see a bald eagle.  Happy American Bald Eagle Day!