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  • Few sounds symbolize American patriotism like the piercing shrill of a bald eagle. But just like George Washington and his cherry tree, that majestic call - is a myth. The screech associated with the bald eagle, in fact, belongs to a different bird. It's a cry that's synonymous with America's national bird. But there's a problem. If you were to look up at the bird making that sound in real life you wouldn't see a bald eagle. Unfortunately for the bald eagle, it has like a little cackling type of a laugh that's not really very impressive for the bird.<br />
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The hole in the tongue is not for swallowing, it's for breathing. The bird trachea (wind pipe) comes up through the tongue. The esophogus is behind that. This is very functional, actually. The eagle's tongue also has sort of a barb on it. When they are swallowing something large, like a fish, they will stick out their tongue so the barbs go past the morsel, then pull their tongue back in. The tips of the barb will pull the food back into their throat, where it can be swallowed. If an eagle's windpipe were behind the tongue like a human, they wouuld be unable to breath with a large piece of prey or whole fish in their their throat.  A situation like that is where the tongue comes into play. They will stick out their tongues to allow the barbs to get the bite of food, but while the tongue is extended, they will open the hole in their tongue to take a breath of air.
    Down The Hatch.jpg
  • An Eagle grabs a fishy snack to cure a powerful appetite. The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle.<br />
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The Bald Eagle is an opportunistic feeder which subsists mainly on fish, which it swoops down and snatches from the water with its talons. It builds the largest nest of any North American bird and the largest tree nests ever recorded for any animal species.<br />
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The plumage of an adult Bald Eagle is evenly dark brown with a white head and tail. The tail is moderately long and slightly wedge-shaped. Males and females are identical in plumage coloration, but sexual dimorphism is evident in the species in that females are 25 percent larger than males. The beak, feet and irides are bright yellow.<br />
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There are two subspecies of bald eagles. The "southern" bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus, is found in the Gulf States from Texas and Baja California across to South Carolina and Florida, south of 40 degrees north latitude. The "northern" bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus alascanus, is found north of 40 degrees north latitude across the entire continent. The largest numbers of northern bald eagles are in the Northwest, especially in Alaska. The "northern" bald eagle is slightly larger than the "southern" bald eagle. Studies have shown that "northern" bald eagles fly into the southern states and Mexico, and the "southern" bald eagles fly north into Canada. Because of these finding, the subspecies of "northern" and "southern" bald eagles has been discontinued in recent literature.
    Bald Eagle Snacks.jpg
  • The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucocephalus) is found only on the North American continent. Adult male eagles generally weigh about 9 pounds. Adult females weigh in at between 12 and 13 pounds. Adult eagles have a wing span of up to 7 feet. Immature eagles are mottled brown and white. The distinct white head and tail of the mature bird is developed between 4-5 years of age. In the wild, bald eagles live to between 30 and 35 years. In captivity, they have been known to live up to 50 years.<br />
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Eagles do not live in isolation! Because they are near the top of the food chain, they become an irreplaceable indicator for measuring the health of the entire ecological system in which they live. After being listed as an endangered species in 1978 following a dramatic drop in population that began at the turn of the century, the Bald Eagle's status was upgraded to Threatened on August 11, 1995. Although efforts to replenish populations of the Bald Eagle have been successful, it continues to be protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Bald Eagle Protection Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
    Spread Eagle.jpg
  • Columbia, an adult female bald eagle, came to the National Eagle Center in 2003 as a juvenile. She hatched in the spring of 2001.<br />
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After feeding on road kill near Dunbar, WI, Columbia was struck by a van. This accident left her with an open fracture near her right shoulder. While this wound was significant and would render her unable to fly again, the accident most likely saved Columbia's life. During treatment for her injuries, Columbia was found to have nearly twice the lethal dose of lead in her blood.<br />
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Lead is extremely dangerous for eagles. Just a tiny amount of lead can be lethal in 4-5 days. She was able to be treated for lead poisoning, but any damage already incurred would be irreversible.<br />
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Columbia arrived at the National Eagle Center just a few months before the Space Shuttle Columbia mission that ended in tragedy. Columbia was named in honor of the commander and crew of this shuttle.
    Columbia - Eagle.jpg
  • The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782 and a spiritual symbol for native people for far longer than that. These regal birds aren't really bald, but their white-feathered heads gleam in contrast to their chocolate-brown body and wings. Look for them soaring in solitude, chasing other birds for their food, or gathering by the hundreds in winter. Once endangered by hunting and pesticides, Bald Eagles have flourished under protection. <br />
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The Bald Eagle dwarfs most other raptors, including the Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk. It has a heavy body, large head, and long, hooked bill. In flight, a Bald Eagle holds its broad wings flat like a board. <br />
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Look for Bald Eagles near lakes, reservoirs, rivers, marshes, and coasts. For a chance to see large Bald Eagle congregations, check out wildlife refuges or large bodies of water in winter over much of the continent, or fish processing plants and dumpsters year-round in coastal Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
    Eagle With an Attitude.jpg
  • Meet Donald. Donald is the first Golden Eagle Ambassador and we are proud to have both eagle species that are native to North America represented at the National Eagle Center.<br />
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Donald came to the National Eagle Center after being treated at the California Raptor Center. He had been hit by a car near the town of Placerville, CA, breaking his right wing in two places. Donald is no longer able to sustain flight.<br />
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We are unsure of Donald's exact age. His fully adult plumage suggests he was at least five years of age when he was injured, so he hatched sometime before 2002.<br />
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Donald arrived at the National Eagle Center on January 8, 2008 and was named for the Donald Weesner Charitable Trust, whose generous donation made his arrival and training possible. During his first year, he continued to be bashful among the other eagles and with guests. He often spent the day looking only at the murals with quick glances toward people. Today, Donald often displays quite relaxed postures in the mews.<br />
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Golden eagles can be found around the world in the northern hemisphere, and Donald's presence at the National Eagle Center has ignited new interest in understanding the life and habitat of golden eagles.
    Golden Eagle - Donald.jpg
  • When an eagle appears, you are on notice to be courageous and stretch your limits. Do not accept the status quo, but rather reach higher and become more than you believe you are capable of.
    Get My Good Side.jpg
  • For such a powerful bird, the Bald Eagle emits surprisingly weak-sounding calls - usually a series of high-pitched whistling or piping notes. The female may repeated a single, soft, high-pitched note that has been called 'unlike any other calls in nature', apparently this signals her readiness for copulation.
    Screming Eagle.jpg
  • On February 14, 1978, the bald eagle was federally listed as endangered in all of the lower 48 United States except Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan (it was classified as threatened in these states). The species was reclassified as threatened in the remaining states on August 11, 1995. Of course, the threatened status means that bald eagle populations are increasing, but have not increased to the point where they are out of danger.<br />
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A 1975 estimate of the total bald eagles in the world (since they are only found in North America, I could say North America) was between 35,000 and 60,000! Most of these are in Alaska and Canada where bald eagles are not endangered. To give you an idea of how the population has grown in the lower 48 states, in 1963 there were 417 breeding pairs known, and in 1994 that number was up to 4,452<br />
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The American bald Eagle has short powerful toes but long scimitar shaped talons. These are perfect for gripping onto slippery fish. The Bald Eagle has brilliant talon - eye coodornition and is capable of snatching unsuspecting fish from the surface of a lake at top speed and is incredibly accurate when doing so.
    All Feathers and Additude.jpg
  • Harriet is the oldest eagle ambassador and arrived at the National Eagle Center in 2000. In 1998, a vehicle collision left her left wing badly dislocated and part of it was subsequently amputated.<br />
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Although she was fully adult at the time of her injury, we know that she hatched in 1981. Harriet was banded as an eaglet in her nest in northern Wisconsin. A researcher placed a small aluminum band on her leg, and she lived in the wild for 17 years before her accident in 1998.<br />
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Harriet has a feather tuft atop her head that makes her easy to identify. We can't be certain, but suspect that this distinctive feather growth is the result of scar tissue and damage to feather follicles.<br />
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As an eagle ambassador with the National Eagle Center, Harriet has made appearances across the country. She's been featured on the Today Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 2007, Harriet was in Washington DC to celebrate the removal of the bald eagle from the endangered species list.<br />
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Much of Harriet's work over the years has been with veterans. She has visited VA hospitals and been a part of numerous veterans honor ceremonies. Harriet is the eagle featured on the Minnesota Support Our Troops license plate.
    Bald Eagle Eating Fish.jpg
  • It is said the eagle was used as a national emblem because, at one of the first battles of the Revolution (which occurred early in the morning) the noise of the struggle awoke the sleeping eagles on the heights and they flew from their nests and circled about over the heads of the fighting men, all the while giving vent to their raucous cries.
    Scream For Freedom.jpg
  • Angel came to the National Eagle Center in 2000.  She had been found on the ground with a broken wing near Grantsburg, WI in 1999. She was just a fledgling and had been surviving on scraps of fish from nearby herons' nests.<br />
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Angel was treated at the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center in St. Paul, where she underwent surgery and realignment of the broken bone in her wing. Though repair of the bone was successful, the damage to the musculature could not be repaired. Angel is unable to sustain flight as she would need to survive in the wild.<br />
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Angel seems to have adjusted quite well as an eagle ambassador. She has matured from a dark headed juvenile to a fully mature, white-headed female bald eagle. Angel's loud vocalizations can be heard when a wild eagle passes by the windows of the National Eagle Center. Angel got her name in a naming contest by a 4th grade student from St. Felix School in Wabasha.<br />
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Angel's regal appearance has made her a favorite guest at many Native American ceremonies and countless educational events for schools, scout troops and communities.
    Columbia in B and W.jpg
  • An American Bald Eagle with an Edgy Amber Attitude snacks on the last bit of a fish, remnants of fishy bone and flesh still visible on the tongue.
    Edgy Amber Eagle.jpg
  • An aged and faded patriotic bald eagle with a backdrop of old glory behind.
    Faded Glory.jpg
  • A Bald Eagle Eats on A Fresh Caught Fish
    Baldy Has SOme Lunch.jpg
  • A Bald Eagle Poses Against A Scenic Backdrop
    Baldy With A View.jpg
  • Excuse me, but does anybody have a comb I could borrow?
    Baldy Needs A Comb.jpg
  • The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle.<br />
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Though their numbers have grown in much of their range, bald eagles remain most abundant in Alaska and Canada. These powerful birds of prey use their talons to fish, but they get many of their meals by scavenging carrion or stealing the kills of other animals. (Such thievery famously prompted Ben Franklin to argue against the bird's nomination as the United State's national symbol.) They live near water and favor coasts and lakes where fish are plentiful, though they will also snare and eat small mammals.<br />
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Bald eagles are believed to mate for life. A pair constructs an enormous stick nest�one of the bird-world's biggest�high above the ground and tends to a pair of eggs each year. Immature eagles are dark, and until they are about five years old, they lack the distinctive white markings that make their parents so easy to identify. Young eagles roam great distances. Florida birds have been spotted in Michigan, and California eagles have traveled all the way to Alaska.
    Baldy On Lookout.jpg
  • Minnesota's state bird, the common loon, is more at home in the water than on land. built like a torpedo, it swims under water in search of prey. Minnesota has more common loons than any other state except Alaska.
    Common Loon 2.jpg
  • A Golden Eagle Profile - Minnesota USA
    Golden Headshot.jpg
  • The Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) is a member of the ibis and spoonbill family (Threskiornithidae). Birds in this family are wading birds with long, downward-curved bills that they use to probe in mud or grass for invertebrates and other prey. Sacred Ibises are larger than Florida's native ibises. <br />
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They have very distinctive long, black feathers or plumes on their rumps. During the breeding season the feathers on the sides of their chests and on the outer wings (near the edge when folded) may have a yellowish (or reddish) tinge, and their lower legs may be tinged with reddish-copper; bare patches of scarlet-red skin may also be visible under their wings. The heads and necks of young Sacred Ibises are covered with black and white feathers, giving the head and neck a mottled appearance.<br />
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Sacred Ibises look very similar to the native Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), a member of the stork family (Ciconiidae) that is federally listed as an endangered species.<br />
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Sacred Ibises are native to sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Madagascar; historically, they were also found in Egypt, where they are now extinct. These large birds are often depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphs as the earthly representation of the god Thoth (also shown as an ibis-headed man) and were considered sacred?hence the common name. They are very similar in appearance and so closely related to the Black-headed Ibis (T. melanocephalus) in South Asia and the Australian White Ibis (T. molucca) that many scientists consider the three a "superspecies," and some believe they may actually all be the same species. In their native range, they inhabit coastal estuaries, lagoons, marshes, and other inland wetlands such as flooded agricultural fields and urban retention ponds.
    Sacred Ibis.jpg
  • With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It's one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.<br />
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Great Horned Owls are fierce predators that can take large prey, including raptors such as Ospreys, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons, and other owls. They also eat much smaller items such as rodents, frogs, and scorpions. Great Horned Owls have large eyes, pupils that open widely in the dark, and retinas containing many rod cells for excellent night vision. Their eyes don't move in their sockets, but they can swivel their heads more than 180 degrees to look in any direction. They also have sensitive hearing, thanks in part to facial disc feathers that direct sound waves to their ears.
    Great Horned Owl.jpg