Bald eagle

Bald eagles catch fish, scavenge, and steal food from ospreys and other birds. Pairs use the same huge nest year after year, adding sticks each season.

In Georgia they nest in winter, laying eggs as early as December.

Bald eagles nearly disappeared from the lower 48 states by the 1960s because of DDT and shooting. With protection, they recovered and were removed from the endangered species list in 2007. Georgia had almost no nesting pairs in the 1970s and now has many.

Nest — An enormous platform of sticks in a tall tree, reused for years
Eggs — Usually one to three
Incubation — About 35 days
Chicks — Fed by both parents
Flight — At about ten to twelve weeks
Maturity — Adult plumage at about five years
Lifespan — Wild birds over thirty years are recorded

• Nests are protected by federal law; keeping well back during nesting season prevents disturbance.
• Lead from ammunition and fishing tackle poisons eagles that eat affected carcasses or fish.

• Brown eagles are golden eagles. Most brown eagles in Georgia are young bald eagles.
• Bald eagles are still endangered. They have recovered and been removed from the endangered list, though they remain protected.

• Osprey
• Golden eagle
• Black vulture