In voicing his support of the bald eagle as our national symbol, John F. Kennedy stated, “Our Founding Fathers made an appropriate choice when they selected the bald eagle as the emblem of the nation. The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolizes the strength and freedom of America.”
The bald eagle is truly an all-American bird. The only eagle unique to North America, bald eagles may live 30 years in the wild and even longer in captivity. These eagles pair for life and nests are sometimes used year after year and weigh as much as 4,000 pounds.
As majestic and revered as the bald eagle is, they almost became extinct in our country. Habitat was lost when virgin forests were cleared and their food source declined because of over-harvesting. Eagles were often shot because they were viewed as a threat to livestock. Also, the widespread use of the pesticide DDT caused a build-up in adult eagles that resulted in laying thin-shelled eggs that would crack before the chicks could hatch.
It is estimated that in the early 18th century, the number of bald eagles was close to 500,000. However, by the 1950s there were only 412 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states. After being declared an endangered species in 1967, recovery programs were put into place to repopulate the bald eagle. By 1990, the total population had returned to approximately 115,000.
Historically, in Mississippi, bald eagles were found nesting along the Mississippi River, the Gulf Coast, and in Oktibbeha County. Extirpated in the 1950s, a single pair recolonized the state in 1974. A state re-introduction program was initiated in the 1980s to expand the population. By 2007, the state population had climbed to nearly 40 pairs. Today, Mississippi has 100 breeding pairs!
Throughout the nation, the bald eagle’s recovery is an American success story. Lately, however, we have heard tragic stories of the mistreatment, displacement, and killing of our beloved national symbol. Though the bald eagle was delisted as an endangered species, there are still several laws in place to ensure that this does not become commonplace.
Several measures have been taken to protect bald and golden eagles such as the Lacey Act of 1900, the 1940 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, banning of DDT in 1972, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program to phase out the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting in 1992. These measures all contributed to the bald eagle being delisted from the Endangered Species list on June 28, 2007.
The protection and preservation of bald eagle populations is very important. We should do all we can to ensure future generations can enjoy seeing eagles soar across our skies. As the great poet William Blake said, “When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up thy head!”
James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi, a nonprofit conservation organization founded to conserve, restore, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their website is www.wildlifemiss.org.
