I was driving out west somewhere the first time I caught a real good look at a bald eagle up close. This was years ago, but I remember we all grabbed for the camera and ohh-ed and ahh-ed. These are big, beautiful birds, and they have a regal presence that I'm sure comes (in part anyway) from the position we give them in this country. The bald eagle is a symbol of America, and we've learned to respect that. But, it wasn't always the case. Eagles were hunted and pushed almost to the point of extinction. There were just 417 (documented) of them in the lower 48 states in 1963. Today, it was dropped from the endangered species list, and there are now nearly 10,000 bald eagles (it's been illegal to kill a bald eagle since 1940, and that's still the case). Now that more of us may be spotting one flying overhead, what meaning does the bald eagle have for you?
Blog of the Nation
Here's hoping this can be a watershed moment for ecosystem-based resource management, because eagles exist on fish, and now the streams need our continued help.
if Ben Franklin had his way, would we be eating (and of course farming) bald eagles for Thanksgiving
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