Bald Eagle, The National Bird of the United States of America

Revival of Bald Eagle

• Context (IE): The national bird of the US, the bald eagle, has returned from the brink of extinction.
• DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), used to kill malaria-carrying mosquitos and agricultural pests, had a catastrophic impact on the bald eagle population.
• Due to the consumption of DDT-contaminated fish, female eagles laid extremely thin-shelled eggs, leading to nesting failures.
• With the help of captive breeding programmes and strict habitat protections, the USA has now successfully revived the bald eagle population.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

• Bald eagle is not actually bald. It is named so because of its white-feathered head.
• Distribution: It is the only eagle solely native to North America.
• Habitat: It is a sea eagle (fish-eating eagle), and so it commonly occurs inland along rivers and lakes.
• It builds its nest in isolated trees or rocks located within easy flight of water. Both parents share in the incubation and feeding of the young.
• Threats: Intense hunting, unintentional poisonings (use of DDT and lead shot), habitat destruction, and loss of great herds of bison (a seasonally important food source).
• Conservation status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern
  • CITES: Appendix II