Bald
Eagles
The word
“Bald” is an old French for the word
“white”. It does not mean
“hairless” or “lack of
feathers.” The bald eagle
has a wingspan of 7 – 8 feet,
and makes its habitat along
coastlines or large bodies of
fresh water. Eagles
require a 25-mile hunting
territory, and appear to mate
for life (which can come close
to 50 years).
Like the
peregrine falcon, brown pelican,
and other species, our national
symbol suffered a great fall due
to pesticides (DDT) employed by
man during the 1950 – 60’s.
Ultimately our emblem found
itself on the endangered species
list. However, through a
concerted effort of the State
and Federal government, use of
the pesticides ceased and the
bird showed its resilience in a
great recovery effort. In
1995 it came off of the
endangered species list.
National
Symbol and School Mascot
The bald eagle became
the official emblem of the United States in
1782. Part of the reason that it
was selected is because the Bald
Eagle can only be found in
North America.
Ben Franklin was not in favor of
having the Bald Eagle as the
national symbol, and would have
opted for the wild turkey.
As a naturalist, Ben Franklin
realized that bald eagles were
prone to scavengers and piracy.
Eagles steal the spoils of its
lesser cousin the Osprey. Franklin felt that these attributes were not
worthy of being represented as
the national symbol. On the
contrary, however, these traits
give testimony to this noble
creature’s ability to adapt, and
above all else, ability to
survive (like our great
country). Through an act of
Congress, the bald eagle became
the national symbol…despite Ben
Franklin’s wishes. Georgia
Southern University adopted the
eagle as its symbol in 1960.
Eagles in
Georgia
As with many other states,
Georgia was faced with
the crises of a plummeting eagle
population. In 1983 no
nesting pair of eagles could be
found. Georgia's
Department of Natural Resources
launched an aggressive campaign
for the species
recovery and today Georgia has
more than 100 known nesting
pairs throughout the state.
Eagles can be found around the
larger lakes to the north and
along the Georgia coast.
During the fall and winter, the
population rises due to the
arrival of migrating eagles that
over-winter in Georgia. An
"eagle sighting" is memorable,
and now a more frequent
experience, for Georgians
across the state!
The Story
of Freedom
The image depicts Georgia
Southern University's
Bald
Eagle named
"Freedom". Freedom is a male
Southern Bald Eagle that was
found knocked
out of the nest in Maitland, FL.
Only weeks old and appearing
like a
"brown ball of fuzz", it was
discovered that the young eagle
had an
injury to its beak and suffered
from an infection. Rushed to the
Florida
Audubon Center for
Birds
of Prey, Freedom made a
complete recovery from
the infection but the injury to
the beak was permanent,
preventing his
release into the wild. With the
permission of the
United
States Fish
and
Wildlife Service,
Georgia
Southern University
acquired Freedom in
2004. Today, Freedom serves not
only as an ambassador for
wildlife and
as an institutional symbol, but
as an "iconic reminder" of the
strength
and majesty of our great
nation. Through the
Georgia
Southern
University Center for
Wildlife Education and Lamar Q
Ball, Jr. Raptor
Center, thousands of visitors
young and old are embraced by
the Power of
Freedom.
Glory's Story
In the United States
Government’s effort to recover
the species, it initiated an
arduous recovery plan. The bird
pictured was taken as an egg
from a nest site in the Florida
Everglades by the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service special agents.
Before you become overly
alarmed, because of the long
breeding season in Florida, the
parent birds immediately laid
additional eggs and therefore
this activity did not negatively
impact the local population.
Once taken from the nest, these
soldiers of stewardship quickly
placed the cherished eggs in a
warmed box and made the long
departure for the Sutton
Research Center in Bartleville,
Oklahoma. Given a safe arrival,
the eggs were quickly whisked to
the Research Center where the
incubation period continued
uninterrupted.
After a total of 35 days, Glory
completed the most difficult
task of introducing herself to
the world. The process of
breaking out of the shell is
called “piping.” It is hugely
taxing and many birds do not
succeed. However, with a
fighting spirit, Glory made her
way into the world.
So small that she could fit in
the palm of your hand, and
without the benefit of wild
parents, the job of caring for
this young eaglet was in the
hands of man. Critical in the
first 25 days is the process of
“species identity.” Like the
television documentaries with
geese and whooping cranes, young
fowl will identify themselves by
imprinting to the first objects
they see during this critical
period of development. To ensure
that Glory would know herself to
be an eagle, the human
caretakers meticulously fed this
pint-sized raptor by use of an
eagle puppet. In addition, and
at the appropriate age, Glory
was coupled with other eagles of
similar age. Throughout the
rearing process, there was no
association or knowledge of the
efforts being made on her behalf
by man.
Like all birds capable of
flight, her growth was
extraordinary. In little more
than 40 days she went from a
bird that could fit in the palm
of your hand to the size that
she is before you. She was now
ready to make introduction into
the wild. Through a coordinated
effort overseen by the Federal
Government it was determined
that she, along with many
others, would be released in
Gulf Shores, Mississippi. The
science revealed that
introducing many eagles of a
similar age at the same time
would give the species a greater
chance of finding a mate when
reaching sexual maturity.
At the nest site, man’s helping
hand continued. Glory, along
with the others, was contained
for several weeks atop of a
release tower… also known as a
“hack site.” The human guardians
(hack site attendants) kept
careful vigil and fed these
birds during this critical
phase. Though imprisoned, these
young eagles were for the first
time allowed to view their vast
surroundings.
One fateful day, the enclosure
was opened and freedom was
before her. As she honed her
prowess as North America’s
largest and most powerful
predatory bird, food continued
to be delivered by her human
guardian. As in nature’s plan
and to the joy and sadness of
her guardians, one day she
failed to reappear. She was now
free and on her own, as a
champion of her species. Though
she was unaware, Glory bore
great expectations on her wings.
It was hoped that she would
reach sexual maturity, which is
noted by the white head and
white tail that is so ingrained
in the minds of the American
public.
We know all these facts because
the only thing that separated
her from her more wild
counterparts was the presence of
a band around her leg and a
small plastic tag on her wing.
One can only wonder what her
life must have been like…from
the time that she left the hack
site until she next encountered
man who had served as her
guardian throughout the process.
Ironic it is that man was what
would break Glory’s spirits.
What follows is sketchy but this
much we know. She was likely in
migration and traveling over
Georgia when she was shot down
from the sky. The X-rays clearly
showed the presence of lead
pellets from a shotgun blast.
Considerable efforts were made
by a veterinarian to salvage the
wing, but to no avail.
Ultimately, and at the hands of
man, half of the right wing
required amputation.
Records have indicated that
eagles are able to live as long
as 45 years, making them one of
the longest lived species of any
bird. The loss of Glory affected
all of her progeny that could
have followed. Glory is living
proof of man’s great capacity
for change. Today she is an
ambassador not only of her
species or of Georgia Southern
University, but is a powerful
and regal symbol of this great
nation!
Seattle
Seattle is a Northern Bald
Eagle, a subspecies of bald
eagle found north of
thirty-eight degrees latitude.
This subspecies is known to be
larger than our native southern
species. Seattle has suffered
from an injury which has fused
one of her wing joints, making
her incapable of flight. It is
believed she likely suffered
this injury from a collision
with a power line, which is a
common hazard for large, soaring
birds like eagles and vultures.
Seattle can be found in the
lakes and rivers habitat on our
Raptor Walkway, where she
frequently demonstrates the
typical bald eagle call for
guests.
Many guests may be surprised at
the call of a bald eagle. which
is quite different from what is
used on television and in
movies. The clear, unwavering
call usually played as an eagle
soars across the screen is
actually the call of a Red
Tailed-Hawk. Bald Eagle calls
are actually a series of sharp
clucks and whistles.
Phoenix
Golden Eagles are some of the
most widespread of eagles, with
their rage spreading across much
of the northern hemisphere. They
typically favor mountains and
are cliff nesters, forming great
aeries on mountainsides. Golden
Eagles are booted eagles,
meaning that feathers cover
their legs, differing from fish
eagles which have naked legs.
Golden eagles are powerful
predators, with some being known
to take prey as large as goats
and small deer.
Phoenix can be found along our
Raptor Walkway in the Mountain
habitat. He suffers from a wing
injury making him incapable of
flight.
