When you look at this bald eagle, you see an important member of the food chain and a majestic feat of biology, a part of a species recovering from a devastating dive in its population, and a symbol of the United States of America.

Bald eagles are majestic creatures with several biological features that humans can only imagine. For instance, bald eagles can spot their prey from over two miles away. When they find their prey, they clamp with their talons that can generate 400 psi of pressure. Also, the juvenile bald eagles are larger than the adults, which is different than humans.

DDT in the 1950’s and illegal hunting caused bald eagle populations to plummet. DDT used to kill insect pests seeped into the water, more specifically the fish that bald eagles would eat. DDT then caused the eggshells of the eagle to become brittle and shatter under weight of the adult.

The bald eagle has been the symbol of the United States since the country’s founding, symbolizing strength, and courage. The bald eagle also is native to North America and is not found anywhere else in the world.

By Ben Wiebe