For 242 years, the bald eagle has been a national emblem for the United States, but the species only received the official status of national bird on December 24, 2024.
The bald eagle has a long and challenging history in the U.S. After being placed in a respected place on the national seal, bald eagles were hunted almost to extinction. A ban in the mid-20th century quelled the hunting, but disaster struck again after World War II with the use of DDT pesticides.
By 1963, only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles were known to exist. After a series of legislative moves to ban DDT and list bald eagles in certain areas as endangered or threatened, the population finally began to recover.
The bald eagle was delisted in 2007, though the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service still keep a close eye on the species’s progress. In 2021, the service published new estimates for the bald eagle population in the lower 48 states, totaling 316,700 individuals, which included 71,467 breeding pairs.
Eagle Facts
Bald eagles inhabit the North American continent from Mexico up into Alaska. In warm areas with plenty of food, such as Florida, bald eagles may stay year round.
In the deep of winter, northern bald eagles from Alaska and Canada will migrate south as lakes and rivers freeze over in their territory. This makes January through March one of the best times to view bald eagles in the lower 48. As spring thaws, the visiting eagles will once again fly north to their breeding grounds.
Breeding
Bald eagles for life-long bonds, called breeding pairs. Each pair might lay and hatch one to three eaglets each year. Breeding pairs will often return to the same nest year after year.
Bald eagles will lay their clutch of eggs at different times of year, depending on location. In warmer climates, bald eagles may begin laying eggs as early as October and as late as April. But in the cold climates, bald eagles will wait until spring to begin laying and incubating their eggs.
Eagle webcams
Multiple webcams throughout the country have been set up at bald eagle nests. Because bald eagles mate for life and keep using the same nest each breeding season, many breeding pairs have hoards of online supporters.
The only webcam in a U.S. National Park is in Channel Islands National Park. “In spring 2006, the first chick to hatch unaided by humans on the Channel Islands in over 50 years made headlines across the country,” their website states.
Bald eagle webcams give bald eagle fans an incredible glimpse into the habits and behaviors of the incredible species
Spotting an eagle
Some of the best national parks to see the nation’s bird are Acadia NP, Olympic NP, and Yellowstone NP, according to bird-watching app Birda.org.
Bald eagles hunt fish, so you’ll have the most success spotting one near bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. You might also catch sight of them nesting in large trees.
