This time of year, patriotism isn’t far from anyone’s mind. With that come images of stars and stripes, of BBQ’s and fireworks, of traditions and fun - but we mustn’t forget that behind all the imagery and flash there is an animal of flesh and bone that is synonymous with America. So, let’s strip away the red, white, and blue for a minute and look a little deeper at the majestic creature proudly displayed on this holiday - the eagle.
Despite its being the most recognizable animal in our country, most people don’t know very much about the Bald Eagle. This bird is an avid fisherman. Fish comprise up to 66% of these eagles’ diets. They aren’t only fish hunters, however. The Bald Eagle is an amazingly opportunistic hunter, who has been documented to have some 400 animals upon which it predates. Anything from small mammals to carrion is on the menu for this adaptive bird. The call of the Bald Eagle that we commonly hear in fourth of July commercials is actually the call of the Red-Tailed Hawk. The call of the Bald Eagle is much less impressive, sounding more nasal, like a high-pitched giggle. These eagles typically mate for life, which can be quite a commitment due to the fact that they can live up to 38 years in the wild. The male and female share the responsibilities of the nest, like incubating eggs and feeding their young. Though they are, in my opinion, the most beautiful eagles in North America they are not alone.
Of all the unique and amazing raptors that North America has to offer, the largest is the Golden Eagle. This massive bird can have a wing span of over seven feet. This predator mostly hunts small mammals. Some of their favorite prey are marmots, ground squirrels, and rabbits. The Golden Eagle is the second-fastest bird on the planet, second only to the Peregrine Falcon. When in a dive, the Golden Eagle can reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. Few production supercars can exceed that speed. Typically though, they soar high above the earth and use their amazing eyesight to scan for prey. They have been said to soar as high as 15,000 feet - that’s almost three miles up in the sky. Much like the Bald Eagle, these eagles mate for life and enjoy long lives. In captivity, Golden Eagles can live up to 50 years. Though the Golden Eagle is the largest eagle in North America, it is not the largest eagle in the world. That title goes to a much different raptor.
The largest eagle on planet earth today is the Steller’s Sea Eagle. Much like Sycamore Grove Park’s own Steller’s jay, this aerial wonder is named after the 15th century German explorer Georg Wilhelm Steller. The Steller’s Sea Eagle not only has a large wingspan that can reach over 8 feet, but it has a very sturdy body for a flying animal. This eagle can weigh anywhere from 11 to 20 pounds. This makes it not only the largest, but also the heaviest eagle on planet Earth. Much like a larger version of the Bald Eagle, this eagle’s diet is heavily fish-based. Upwards of 80% of their diet can be comprised of salmon, trout, Bering wolfish, and Alaska Pollock. Being dedicated to the coastline, however, does not mean this massive predator only consumes fish. It supplements its diet with a variety of waterfowl. As you would have probably surmised, this giant eagle touts some serious weaponry. Its talons are not as long as other comparably sized eagles who hunt mammals, but they are heavily curved for hunting fish. This type of curved talons is found on eagles known as “booted eagles.” Along with its dangerous talons, the Steller’s Sea Eagle sports the largest bill of any eagle in the world.
Even with all these amazing hunting adaptations, the Steller’s Sea Eagle is, unfortunately, endangered. Its home is limited to costal parts of northeastern Asia including Russia, China, and Japan. The large body size and distribution of the Steller’s Sea Eagle has led researchers to believe that one of the reasons for its endangered status is that it is a glacial relict. This means they suspect that the Steller’s Sea Eagle had a much larger range during the last ice age, when the earth was cooler, and prey was larger.
Another relict of the past is the Haast’s eagle, the largest eagle the world has ever seen. This true goliath was native to New Zealand and died out in the 15th century. With a wingspan of almost 10 feet, these avian monsters would hunt their favorite prey, the Moa. Moas were large, flightless birds that roamed New Zealand and also went extinct roughly 500 to 600 years ago. They weighed around 500 pounds and could stand 12 feet tall (that’s much larger than the largest ostrich alive today). The Maori, who were the sole inhabitants of New Zealand at that time, spoke of Haast’s eagles in legends, saying that they would hunt people. Scientists believe this could be more than just a legend, as these eagles may have topped out at 36 pounds, and were capable of hunting animals much larger than humans.
Whether in our own backyard, across the globe, or lost to time, eagles are formidable and awe-inspiring creatures. The sight of them can fill us with wonder and a sense of freedom as they fly high overhead. It is easy to see why they were selected as our national symbol. Now that we have learned a little about eagles as animals and not just as a symbol of our beautiful nation, let’s get back to enjoying this great holiday and throw some more dogs on the BBQ. Be sure to save one for me!
[Photo by Saffron Blaze via Wikipedia]