"Moose" - an American Bald Eagle
This mature female bald eagle was found in Yellowstone National Park. A
wildlife rehabilitator on vacation was birdwatching and saw her seize,
convulse and fall from a tree, landing on her head and shoulder. The
rehabilitator threw her coat over her and drove to the nearest wildlife
rehabilitation center. She had ingested six poisoned gophers and was suffering from organophosphate toxicity (secondary poisoning). Her shoulder was fractured into eight pieces from the fall. Antidotes were given for the
poison and the shoulder operated on. Unfortunately, her range of motion is
impaired and she is no longer able to fly successfully.
"The Moose" became part of OWL's education team in July of 1994, teaching people the value of our native wildlife, endangered species and uncontrolled pesticides. She gets her name because she weighs 13 pounds and has an 8 foot wing span.
Fun Facts
- Bald Eagles are the symbol of the United States.
- They nest near reservoirs or large bodies of water.
- Found only in the United States.
- Flight muscles account for 1/2 the bird's weight. The entire skeleton only weighs a little over 1/2 pound.
- Pound for pound, an eagle wing is stronger than the wing of an airplane.
- Has over 7,000 feathers but all of them together weigh less than 21 ounces.
- An immature eagle goes through 5 color changes, one each year, starting with a brown head, body and tail. In the fifth year they are considered mature with a white head and tail and brown body.
- Although primarily a fish eater, they are also scavengers.
- There are six active bald eagle nests in Kansas.
- Eggs are incubated almost entirely by the female for approximately 31-46 days.
- Young fledge at about 72-75 days.
- Average life span is approximately 30 years in the wild.
Read about a different education animal.