Bald
Eagles
Bald eagles
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus) are the largest birds of prey in Canada.
Females are larger than males, and weights of over 15 pounds (7
kg) are not uncommon. Wingspans can reach 8 feet (2.4 meters) and
the height of a perched bald eagle can measure 30 inches (76 cm).
They are famous for their adult plumage, which includes their trademark
white head and tail feathers, contrasting sharply with their dark
brown body. A young bald eagle will attain this coloration in four
to five years, and before this time will have a mottled brown and
white plumage, with no white head or tail. Juvenile bald eagles
are often mistaken for golden eagles or turkey vultures.
 Bald
eagles can fly up to 30 miles per hour and can see four times better
than humans. Their large feet, long talons and massive beaks also
contribute to making them very effective hunters. Their diet consists
primarily of salmon, supplemented by other fish, aquatic birds and
small land mammals.
Their name,
"bald" eagle, comes from a time when the word "bald"
or "balde" meant "white", not hairless. Though
they are endangered throughout their range, numbers in British Columbia
are still relatively high, estimated at about 20,000, or roughly
30% of the world's population. Bald eagles pair and mate as long
as both are alive. They steadfastly return to the same nest area
year after year, sometimes to a different nest in the same area.
The female lays one to three eggs and the pair incubates them. The
eggs are shifted hourly to keep them evenly warm. Chicks stay at
the nest until they are as large as their parents, about 10 weeks
after hatching.
Their nests
are architectural wonders, and are quite easy to spot from our kayaks.
The largest nests of any bird in North America, they commonly measure
4.5 - 6 feet (1.5 - 2 m) across and 3 feet (1 m) high, and long
established nests can be as large as 18 feet (6 m) tall and 9 feet
(3 m) across! While paddling, our eyes are always on the lookout
for these huge creations, and the majestic birds themselves.
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