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Eagles

Marjorie Cahak Gibson

Natural History

Eagles are a charismatic group of raptors. There are over 60 eagle species in the world; however,
many are not even closely related. Eagles are categorized as “eagles” as much because of their large
size and power as their genetic kinship with each other. They hold a great deal of fascination for
the public; that interest can be both beneficial to eagle conservation, as well as problematic. Some
of the allure of eagles is simply based on the elegant raptors’ beauty, large size, strength, and the
intrigue created by their very existence. Some fascination over eagles is centered on the myriad
myths and legends that depict eagles and follow the huge birds throughout every culture since the
recorded history of man began on the walls of cave (Bahn 2016).
This is an exciting time in the history of the Bald Eagle in the United States. With the help of the
banning of DDT in 1972 and passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973 (Baur and Irwin 2010)
the eagle population has recovered well. No one alive today has seen the population of Bald Eagles
in the U.S. as high as it is at this time in history. The eagles themselves are making changes as they
adapt to the stronger eagle population and the challenges that come with it. Once, not long ago,
remote habitat available for hunting and breeding was plentiful. Now the big birds are feeling the
squeeze to find adequate nesting and hunting territories that fulfill their needs. At the same time,
the human population is growing and increasingly encroaching on wilderness areas in which to
live and recreate. Areas that were previously difficult for people to access are now fully accessible
with all‐terrain vehicles and even snowmobiles. Human disturbance is becoming a part of life for
Bald Eagles in populated areas. Large nesting trees are needed to support the eagle’s massive nests
that can weigh over a thousand pounds. Safe, abundant prey that has not been exposed to toxins
such pesticides, rodent poisons, or lead fragments is vital for eagles to successfully raise a family.
Eagle rehabilitators in areas of high density report territorial disputes that cause death or serious
injury to one or both participants are at an all‐time high. As the eagles adapt to their new normal
of a higher population and increased stressors associated with living closer to the human popula-
tion, so too must we as wildlife rehabilitators. For instance, release protocols have had to change to
keep up with the eagles’ responses to changes in their population and other stressors such as habi-
tat loss. Spring, summer, and fall releases in areas of the country that enjoy a near‐saturated Bald
Eagle population are no longer possible without the threat of endangering an entire nest due to a
territorial dispute. In wildlife rehabilitation, the wild population must take precedence over the

Hand-Rearing Birds, Second Edition. Edited by Rebecca S. Duerr and Laurie J. Gage.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.