The Bald Eagle - America’s Symbol A Visual Guide to the Life and Activity of America’s Symbol

by Charles Schmidt

Copyright 2015-2022 Published by Charles Schmidt

All rights reserved. No photograph can be reproduced.

The Bald Eagle was adopted as our national symbol in 1782. Eagles used to be considered marauders that killed domestic livestock and, thus, many were killed. In 1940, Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act in hopes of of staving off the extinction of Bald Eagles. However, numbers continued to decline and by 1963 only 487 nesting pairs remained. In 1972, the use of DDT, an insecticide which was blamed for the poisoning of eagles and other birds, was banned. In 1978, the Bald Eagle was officially listd as an endangered species. The eagles made a slow comeback, but by 2007 they were removed from the threatened and endangered list.

Majestic Bald Eagle Guarding Nest, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0, ISO 400, Textured background added in Photoshop

Federal wildlife officials report that now there are more than 316,000 Bald Eagles in the lower 48 States and more than 70,000 pairs. Over the last several years, I have observed and photographed three pairs of Bald Eagles in Northern Virginia. One pair that nested for a couple of years at Burke Lake. A second pair that has a nest near Fort Bennet Park in Arlington, and a pair that has a nest in the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve in Alexandria. I have also observed many more eagles as they fly, hunt, rest, and interact with other raptors, and rest throughout Northern Virginia.

Praying Bald Eagle, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 800

Adult Bald Eagles with their distinctive white head and tail feathers can weigh up to 14 pounds and have an 8 foot wingspan. That distintive white head and tail however is not fully developed until the eagle is about five years old. Taken at Conowingo Dam in Maryland, this adult Bald Eagle is flying in front of the dam looking to fish. Every fall and early winter dozens of Bald Eagles gather at the dam. When the gates to the dam are open fish are often stunned as they come through the dams gates. This makes relatively easy fishing for the eagles.

Bald Eagle Looking for Next Meal, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 4.0,ISO 8000

Bald Eagle migration patterns vary widely and are based primarily on availablility of food and where they breed. The Bald Eagle Range map published by “All About Birds” indicates a complex resident to long-distance migration. The three mating pairs that I have observed all migrate south in late fall and return as early as January. However, others remain in Virginia year round. This adult Bald Eagle was soaring above Burke Lake in Burke, Virginia. Given that the eagle was headed south and the timeframe was December, this could have been an eagle that was migrating south from the northeast.

Soaring Bald Eagle, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 800

Mating pair of Bald Eagles watching over their young at the nest in the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve. It is difficult to identify a male Bald Eagle from a female. The female is generally larger so, if seen side by side, the sexes can be determined. In this case the female is on the left.

Bald Eagle Mating Pair, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/1600 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 400

When they return to their nesting grounds mating pairs of Bald Eagles will conduct different types of “rituals” to reacquaint themselves and prepare for mating. I observed the mating pair of eagles in Arlington conduct a sort of aerial dance, circling aroung each other and vocalizing to one another. This took place for several minutes before they flew off together. I unfortunately have not seen the “ritual” where a mating pair of eagles will lock talons in the air and spiral towards the ground.

Dance of the Eagles, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2500 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 640

This is the mating pair of Bald Eagles that have utilized the nest in Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserved for at least the past three years. In 2020, they migrated back to the area in December. I was able to observe them mating at the end of December. In this image the male is on the righ side and the female is on the left. The female is in the procsss of eating a fish. The male waits patiently while the female eats.

After the female finished fish, approximately 20 minutes later the male begins his appoach. He approached slowly and vocalized as he approached his mate. As he approached the female also began vocalizing or “talking” to the male.

Apparently receiving the females “permission”, the male mounts the female. The female bends forward and moves her tail feathers so the male’s cloacal opening can press againts the females cloaca. Sperm is then passed from the male to the female. This all took about one minute and the female departed immediately after. Reportedly a mating pair will mate repeatedly during any particular mating season before eggs are laid.

Female Bald Eagle Eats While Male Stands Guard, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at

f / 11,ISO 800

Female Bald Eagle Returning to Nest with Nesting Material, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV,

1/2000 sec at f / 11,ISO 1000

Bald Ealge Copulation, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 11,ISO 1000

The mating pair of Bald Eagles I watch at Dyke Marsh have used the same nest for at least three years. But I have heard from others that it has been in use for much longer. As you can see the nest is high in a tree ensuring that the eagles get a nice view of the surrounding area including the Potomac River. I estimate that this nest is six to eight feet in diameter and about three feet tall in the center. The nest is deep enough to completely cover one of the adults when they are incubating eggs. One eagle is landing in the nest and the white head of a second eagle is visible. It is likely that given the positioning of the eagle deep in the nest and the date of this image (early March) the female is incubating eggs.

Bald Eagle Nest at Dyke Marsh, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2500 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 2500

Bald Eagles will work on their nest when they return in the late fall and until their young have fledged. They will bring material - large sticks and small twigs and leaves - back to the nest. I have seen them grab dead branches from trees, fly to the forest floor, and into the water to get nesting material. They will rearrange existing material and incorporate the new material into the nest. Unfortunately, the nest I watched at Burke Lake was blown down in a storm during 2020 and has not been rebuilt.

Working on Nest, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 6.3,ISO 12800

Bald Eagle Building Nest, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 800

Reinforcing Nest with Big Stick, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 11,ISO 3200

After laying eggs the female Bald Eagle remains at the nest incubating the eggs almost constantly. Her mate will bring food to the nest. She will incubate the eggs for approximately 35 days. The mating pair at Dyke Marsh have been the most successful with two chicks raised every year since at least 2019. The pair at Burke Lake did not have any chicks in the two years I observed them and their nest fell during a storm in late 2019. The mating pair in Arlington had two chicks in 2018.

Female Bald Eagle Incubating Eggs, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2500 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 640

Adult Bald Eagle, probably the female, returns to nest after short flight around nest. It left the nest when it was disturbed by a helicoptor flying nearby. One parent will stay at or near nest until chicks are older. Based on their plumage and size these chicks were probably two to three weeks old.

Bald Eagle Returning to Nest, Canon EOS 80D, 1/1000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 800

The adult Bald Eagles will bring food to the nest and tear pieces off for their young. The nestlings pictured above are probably two to three weeks old. Parents will feed their young small pieces of meat until they are five or six weeks old.

Female Bald Eagle Feeds One of It’s Nestlings, Canon EOS 80D, 1/1000 sec at f / 5.6,ISO 800

All Parents Give Their Child That Look, Canon EOS 80D, 1/1000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 800

Mother Bald Eagle Watching over Two Fledglings, Canon EOS 80D, 1/1000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 800

Adult Bald Eagle Returns to Nest with Fish for Young, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO

4000

Two Young Bald Eagles Side by Side, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/1600 sec at f / 5.6,ISO 1250

Young Bald Eagles Play Tug of War with Stick, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/1600 sec at f /

8.0,ISO 2500

Family Portrait, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 5000

At about 8 to 9 weeks old the nestlings at Dyke Marsh nest have begun to exercise their wings in earnest. They “hop” back and forth on the nest flapping their wings. Looking closely you can see the wing feathers are almost 100% grown.

Below, about two weeks later, the nestlings have begun to “branch” - flying or hopping to branches near the nest.

Young Bald Eagle Exercising It’s Wings, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/1600 sec at f

/ 5.6,ISO 3200

Bald Eagle Nestlings Beginning to Branch, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 3200

Three weeks later, by early June, the nestlings at Dyke Marsh have fully fledged. The fledglings stay near the nest and slowly begin longer flights.

The fledglings feathers are almost all brown at this point except for under their wings. As they get older more white feathers will develop on entire body before reaching the well known white head and tail feathers and dark brown body feathers.

Fledgling Bald Eagle in Flight, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 11,ISO 2000

Juvenile Bald Eagle Perched Near Nest, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 1250

The juvenile Bald Eagles pictured here are probably about one year old. White feathers have started to spread to other parts of their body but not very prominently yet. Young Bald Eagles will often return to the area they were born. This can cause conflict with other

Juvenile Bald Eagle Portrait, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2500 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 640

Juvenile Bald Eagle Flying Over Burke Lake, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/1600 sec at f / 5.6,ISO 6400

Juvenile Bald Eagle in Flight Portrait, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 2500

This juvenile eagle circled around the nest in Arlington before being driven away by the pair of adults.

Near the Dyke Marsh nest an adult Bald Eagle attacks a juvenile that was perched near the edge of the Potomac River. Although I cannnot confirm it the juvenile may have been one of the two that had been born in that nest the previous year.

The juvenile did not have food suggesting that this was most likely was an attempt by the adult to drive this juvenile away from its territory.

Adult Bald Eagle Attacks Juvenile, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 1000

Adult Bald Eagle Protects Nest From Juvenile Eagle, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2500 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 800

The Bald Eagles that I have observed in Northern Virginia feed primarily on fish. I have observed, on one occasion, a eagle catch a turtle and I heard from another photographer that he observed one of the adults at Dyke Marsh eating a seagull. They are opportunistic hunters and, more often than not, I have observed Bald Eagles stealing fish from other birds. I have had the best luck photographing eagles hunting about an hour or two after sunrise. The above photo was taken when one of the adult Bald Eagles that makes Burke Lake their home swooped down to grab a fish a Great Blue Heron had dropped while flying across the lake. I had been watching the eagle for about an hour perched in a tree across the lake. When the Great Blue Heron dropped it fish the Bald Eagle immediatly flew from its perch to steal the fish.

Bald Eagle Grabs Fish, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2500 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 2500

When Bald Eagles spot their prey in the water they fly down and with talons facing forward grab the prey from the water.

On windy days I have observed eagles turn into the wind before grabbing their meal. Eagles, and other birds, are able to better control their flight by flying into the wind.

Juvenile Bald Eagle Fishing, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 4000

Juvenile Bald Eagle Grabs Fish, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2500 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 800

The above photograph is a great example of the the tremendous hunting skills and diverse diet of Bald Eagles. I had watched this eagle which was perched at Huntley Meadows Park for about an hour waiting for it to fish. It suddenly flew from its perch, circled into the wind, and dove to the water! It flew within feet of several geese who put up quite the ruckus at this invasion of their space.

The eagle grabbed a turtle and flew away. Until I reviewed the images I did not know what a skillful demostration of targeting prey I had observed and caught on camera. The eagle had grabbed a turtle by the neck with two talons! Unfortunately the eagle flew away and I did not get a chance to see how it was able to eat the turtle and get past the shell.

Bald Eagle Demonstrates Targeting Skill!, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 8000

Bald Eagles fish by flying towards their target and as they get close they extend their talons and grab the fish. This is a different than Osprey, another of my favorite raptors! As discussed, a Bald Eagle will swoop down and with talons forward grab a fish from neat the surface of the water. I have observed them do this after being perched or after circling the water.

Osprey will fly around a body of water and often hover above the water if they see a fish. They will then dive quickly down with talons out into the water often submerging their entire body. They will then spread their wings to float and then fly out of water. Some researchers believe the Osprey is four times more successful than eagles at catching fish.

Talons Out, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2500 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 500

Osprey dive, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 8000

Bald Eagles and Osprey are very competitive and do not get along well. Everywhere I have observed Bald Eagles and Osprey in the same area I have seen them harass each other and aerial battles over fish and territory. They seem relatively well matched as while a Bald Eagle is faster and stronger Osprey are more agile. The photo on the right is of a Osprey driving a juvenile Eagle away from its nest. The photo below is one of many I captured watching a more then ten minute aerial battle between these two birds. In this case, the Osprey was attacking the eagle and every time it attacked from above the eagle would turn with talons up to defend itself. It was an impressive aerial display!

Osprey Driving Juvenile Bald Eagle Away From Its Nest., Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/1600 sec at f /

8.0,ISO 400

Osprey Attacks Bald Eagle, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 400

One day while photgraphing at Huntley Meadows Park I captured a Bald Eagle chasing an Osprey who had just caught a fish. This is a relatively normal occurance that I have observed numerous times. In every case the eagle is perched somewhere nearby watching the Osprey hunt. If the Osprey is successful in catching a fish the eagle immediately begins chasing the osprey to try to get it to drop the fish. This particular chase when on for several minutes with the Osprey out manuvering the eagle. The osprey did eventually drop the fish but neither raptor recovered it. They both lost!

Osprey and Bald Eagle Battle over Fish, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f /

5.6,ISO 320

Bald Eagle Pursues Osprey 2, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 400

Bald Eagle Pursues Osprey, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/2000 sec at f / 8.0,ISO 4000

Although most of the information in this book are a result of my own observations I did use several sources during my research. References: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/bald-eagle-fact-sheet/ https://www.fws.gov/uploadedfiles/region_5/nwrs/central_zone/montezuma/eaglefacts.pdf https://baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle-facts.html https://journeynorth.org/search/BaldEagle.html

Copyright 2015-2022 Published by Charles Schmidt

All rights reserved. No photograph can be reproduced.