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 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 or threatened 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. 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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