Let's Talk About America's Iconic Bald Eagle

[@r.awilliams9815]

I worked in Alaska back in the 80's, and when we sat down for lunch, the eagles would show up looking for handouts. They got them, too. It made me nervous at first, offering a prawn to a huge bird with a beak like an axe, but they never nipped me once.

[@anitahall2618]

That is awesome! 😮

[@anothersquid]

used to have golden eagles living near me on the west coast. They'd pull that too. Now I have a macaw... and she will nip :)

[@brianhiles8164]

There is a KZbin channel of a man who has devoted his life to saving imperiled eagles and other birds of prey. He grabs these eagles by their strong legs, with talons sharp enough to rip prey apart limb from limb, all the while looking at them face to face. He´s never been pecked or otherwise hurt by a beak. Apparently that is not what they do.

[@jburnett8152]

When I visited Alaska it really looked to me like the birds were so much larger there.

[@TheQuickSilver101]

That's a neat story

[@impulse_xs]

It’s crazy how much the bald eagle population has recovered in PA. I never saw bald eagles as a kid in the early 2000s. Now I see them along almost every waterway in the tri-county area.

[@1972Ray]

Susquehanna Dam? Thats a hot spot.

[@impulse_xs]

@@1972Ray mostly on the Perry county section of the Juniata, large sections of Swatara Creek, and Conodoguinet actually. Though you see more on the sections closer to the Susquehanna.

[@tommoore2012]

Your comment literally made me pumped up. I love the fact that these birds are almost once again everywhere.

[@seandonahue87]

I'm close to scranton pa and see them often

[@sonozaki0000]

How wonderful! Being from a California city, I've only seen one once on a trip to a national park. Everyone was losing their minds staring at it, taking pictures, and hoping it wouldn't fly away! It gave me the impression they were rare: glad that's not true!

[@zburnham]

The cry that is usually used in popular media when bald eagles are involved is actually the cry of the Red-Tailed Hawk, which is also endemic to the entire country.

[@SamlSchulze1104]

Bald Eagle: My spokesperson will speak for me. Red-tailed Hawk: SCREEEEEEECH!

[@RoseNZieg]

honestly I don't know why people do that.

[@screamingseal4805]

@@RoseNZiegbecause the bald eagles call isn’t impressive

[@-Katastrophe]

You could say the Red Tailed Hawk is the Bald Eagle's wing man.

[@DaPopeANata]

@@screamingseal4805 It probably happens to a lot of animals in media. They do the same with cougars, substituting their more housecat like localizations with those from lions or tigers.

[@beanhavok2287]

I was born in 73, and NEVER saw B Eagle until about 15 years ago. Now I see them at least 5 times a year!

[@DZ-DizzyDumm]

Born in 03, so I'm lucky enough to have seen them every year I can remember!

[@Morna777]

I have seen them in a canyon near a river but quite recently driving through a suburb we actually got buzzed by one.

[@flakbait5771]

Was in the hospital once when I was a kid, and a bald eagle landed outside my window. Absolutely made my week! Thanks for a great video

[@kirbyculp3449]

Gandalf sent it.

[@timhefty504]

Please tell me you saluted it

[@RosheenQuynh]

Aww!

[@johnd545]

That was Truly a Blessing.... ❤

[@silvermainecoons3269]

Jackie and Shadow, one of the most famous eagle couples in America whose lives are caught on nest cam have just laid their 3rd egg. Exciting! Their nest is in Big Bear Valley in the southern Sierra Nevada mountain range. Fun fact: since the increasing use of nest cameras it’s been discovered that Bald Eagles have been seen bringing live Red-Tailed Hawk nestlings to the nest for the eaglets to practice their killing skills. In a small number of these scenarios the parents end up adopting the hawk and even keep taking care of it after it fledges with its eaglet step-siblings. Pretty cool.

[@TarahAlexandria]

So true. I remember watching the Gabriola nest cam a couple of years ago, where the two eagle parents adopted a red tailed hawklet(Malala)and raised them with their eaglet(Junior). It was amazing to witness live through the nest cam. Too bad Junior passed away shortly after they fledged. RIP😞

[@silvermainecoons3269]

@@TarahAlexandria Yeah, that was incredibly sad. 😢

[@ripvanwinkle2002]

Laurence... and i mean this mate... you are the wholesome, happy bit of my country i use to counter all the bad thats going on. Good on ya mate and thank you for your support over the past few years! ~ A Fellow American

[@aevenova9780]

He is an example of legal immigration done right.

[@StamfordBridge]

@@aevenova9780You sound like the problem the OP was referring to.

[@ripvanwinkle2002]

@@StamfordBridge he is not. he is also correct. but i just meant the fact Laurence tries to find the good things in the USA where so many of us are currently spending most of our energy trying to see the bad in country and each other. me included. i appreciate the effort he makes to see things they other way, when thats not the easy way to do it these days.

[@StamfordBridge]

@@ripvanwinkle2002 I can agree with you about Laurence, wholeheartedly, but not about the “positive” implication of the respondent - but fair enough.

[@ripvanwinkle2002]

@@StamfordBridge what is negative about using Laurence as a positive image for legal immigration? is he not worthy? truly baffled by people who think like you.

[@indiaandrews6996]

Another iconic American bird is the roadrunner. I attended Arizona State University where I took a class that introduced me to a British woman. She grew up watching Looney Tunes. She thought the roadrunner from the cartoons with coyote were a myth, until she saw one run across the road in the desert. She was surprised when her American friend told her what it was.

[@rhov-anion]

I was disappointed when I first saw one. I thought they were as big of an ostrich.

[@ColonelSandersLite]

@@rhov-anionI don't want to rain too hard on your parade but coyotes don't have rocket skates either.

[@LoveyK]

It’s New Mexico’s State Bird, but I have never seen one. I guess they’re too fast for me.

[@dohanddonuts5716]

Time to wreck your childhood: Coyotes are faster than roadrunners. Cartoons lied to us.

[@unbindingfloyd]

First time I saw one in person was in Austin Texas. Just in the middle of the city running through a parking lot on a weekend. Not a whole lot of cars around and it was quiet. Business park area not down town or anything. I was surprised it was small as well. Always figured they were much larger but nope. Still it looked cool. Especially the tail.

[@FR-tb7xh]

So glad our beautiful US bald eagle population is beginning to recover. My homelakes in northeastern Pennsylvania have become year round paradises toward their resurgence. To see them dive for prey, from fields to the waters, is always impressive. In fact, our friends have had their ice-fishing catches stolen the moment they’re pulled out!

[@kathrynwitte3398]

Their mamas didn’t raise no fools. Bald Eagles are also seen near Raystown Lake in central PA.

[@beminsterify]

I saw my first on in the wild a few years ago on a small lake in Missouri. They are starting to hang around most of the waterways in the state now.

[@mariewagner5283]

Hello, from the PA Grand Canyon area!

[@FR-tb7xh]

@@mariewagner5283 PA native here, but never heard of a “Grand Canyon?”

[@AusmaSarutobi2009AMV]

It's a majestic bird! it's big, it's tough, it looks cool and it's intelligent. out of all animals on earth not human it's definitely top five in coolest and top two in birds the only bird that compares is the ravens, which are big, smart, mean animals, definitely nothing wrong with taking second to the second most likely animal to reach advance technology and become a xenos species to Allie and or rival humans, and it ain't like eagles are that far behind a eagle civilization world destroy some alien invaders, I'm proud for it to represent me as a symbol

[@tcslife4794]

I live on the Mississippi River and see bald eagles all the time. They are beautiful and majestic. I love their chirping.

[@heavenbound32566]

Growing up, it was a REAL possibility that we were going to lose bald eagles in the lower 48 due to DDT poisoning. Now, we have some resident in our county. Actually had one land in the parking lot not 50 ft. from us this afternoon. Absolutely awesome! (I live in south central Iowa.)

[@Ninjastahr]

A bald eagle landing in this much snow would be so cool (Also from central Iowa!)

[@teresahiggs4896]

We have seen eagles in northern Alabama . There’s lots of rivers and wetlands so they hang around those areas and hunt.

[@standdownrobots_ihaveoldglory]

I remember being told that each sighting might be my last. Now I live in a little neighborhood with cemeteries in 2 directions (lots of field mice etc), and we have a resident bald eagle who seems to enjoy the attention. He does scream, but it doesn't sound as impressive as his voice actor, the hawk whose loud scream is often dubbed in. He loves swooping a bit low, and I love to see him, but a bit nervous about small dogs he might be interested in lol

[@JD-tn5lz]

Up here in Alaska they are pests whose only purpose is to destroy paintjobs, eat pets, spread garbage, and attract other pests...tourists.

[@malizia63]

Life long resident of NJ for almost 50 years. I've seen more bald eagles in the last 5 years than I've seen in all the years before

[@michaelyoung7261]

The Red Tailed Hawk is usually the voice actor who portrays birds of prey. Brother Bear is one of the few videos where the Bald Eagle plays itself. Personally, the seagull like call of the Bald Eagle is one of the more beautiful sounds in nature, far better than any song bird call.

[@huntersedlacek7495]

I had to analyze bird calls for a class in University and I was surprised by their sound. But at the same time I had seen many red tailed hawks and eagles in my area. And I thought about it and I realized I had known this about the eagle, but all the media’s eagle screeches were ingrained in my memory.😂

[@w-dad4040]

The Loon would like to have a word with you lol

[@teddysmum8900]

And thousands of us (not just Americans) are watching live bald eagle cams in Florida and Louisiana right now to see them raise their eaglets. Then later in the season, we head out west to California and Catalina Island live cams for more eaglet rearing adventures! 😂

[@Cubs-Fan.10]

I "liked" your comment, and appreciate everything you said! However when you mentioned Catalina I don't think of eagles, I think of Boats and H..... lol Sorry to ruin your vibe and amazing experiences, I'm just a 40 year old child haha

[@maurachapman4179]

In Minnesota we see live streams (cameras) in the winter and live animals year round .

[@Kehy_ThisNameWasAlreadyTaken]

I just go lake fishing and see them. Saw one steal a dude's fish once. It was hilarious and the guy couldn't even be mad

[@geebrewer8186]

I love bird cams, have watched the bald eagle ones, great horned owl ones and my favorite, the Laysan Albatross ones (not on anymore)

[@anderewisp1]

Montana does this too(regarding op)

[@FoxDragon]

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, there was a pair of bald eagles that nested every year in a tree across the street from out house. It was such an a amazing experience every year to watch the new chick(s) grow up and start to fly. I live farther away from the coast now, and haven't seen one in person in a few years years, but I will always have a special place in my heart for them.

[@Cubs-Fan.10]

I was lucky enough to grow up watching these amazing predators hunt on the Mississippi River. Seeing them swoop down and snag a fish, or other bird was amazing. Plus, holding one as a kid was epic.

[@tupelo1975]

I see these damn birds almost every day in the winter, being they nest here. It is about a ten-minute walk from my house to the Mississippi River. They sound totally different than most people expect though.

[@jeffdege4786]

Lake Pepin is one of the great birdwatching sites.

[@Callylily7]

​@@tupelo1975I think that's great. Their sounds changes depending on what's happening. They have calls when mating, another when they feel danger and so on. I watch them in KZbin but would be thrilled to see them like you do.

[@AngelaVEdwards]

Don't hold one now. Touching them is a federal crime.

[@Cubs-Fan.10]

@AngelaVEdwards That's inaccurate. Conservationists all over the country have educational shows featuring Bald Eagles for purposes of education and preservation of their environment. It's very common that Bald Eagles are featured in schools, events, etc that allow kids or other audience members to hold and/or feed the Eagles. It's an incredible moment which further emphasizes the love of this great predator.

[@feralbluee]

Just to let you guys know, the western condor is also making a comeback. They may not be pretty birds, but, in their own way, the chicks are adorable. They are incredibly curious little birds and it shows in their eyes and behavior. I’ve watched vids of chicks becoming adults, and they’re amazing. Even though they’re all by themselves, they have a great time as they’re learning to fledge, jumping and flapping amongst the cliff rocks and crevasses. I don’t know what 😊

[@jeffnorris7592]

Not Jeff here. Back in the 80's, when they were talking about doing the massive rescue, I went to a seminar about condors. It was so informative. There were researchers ready to do the captures, and other researchers advocating letting them die with dignity. I counted about 50 people in the room. That was TWICE the entire population of California Condors, that's how close they came.

[@tenaguin1054]

There is beauty in everything but more important there is a purpose for all.

[@jamespayne7977]

Western Condor= California Condor? Even if not condors are cool.

[@Gina-rk9sm]

I took a birding tour once to see condors. The guide told us you’ll know it when you see it flying because it looks like a garage door with fingers at the end. Best description he could have given. Unmistakably when you see it.

[@SaucePussy]

No they aren't. Black vultures are outcompeting them in all their traditional habitats

[@rogersheddy6414]

"America will always do the right thing but only after trying everything else." I had not thought of this before but how true it is!

[@markboreen3359]

Yes, it's another of those quotes popularly attributed to Winston Churchill that there's no record of him actually saying.

[@FoxtrotYouniform]

"Don't believe everything you read on the internet" -Winston Churchill

[@chaosXP3RT]

How is it true?

[@totaldramagamer5521]

@@markboreen3359 Yeah, but even as an American it's really funny. It'd be even funnier if the joke originated here in actuality.

[@ChefDuJour78]

“The internet tells no lies .” Julius Caesar

[@Lonesome__Dove]

I live in Florida. Theres a HUGE population of bald eagles here. I love these raptors. They're amazing. I watch several nests most the year. They're great parents.

[@Harpoquondrax]

One of my fondest memories was walking my dog (here in the PNW) and out of nowhere two full grown male bald eagles fighting come toppling out of the trees. All I saw were talons and beaks. It was awesome.

[@Callylily7]

In case you've ever wondered, a male will not fight a female unless his eggs or chicks are threatened. I've only seen it happen twice. They can be mighty warriors.

[@M.E.M.O.10-50]

Watch out, they might think your dog looks tasty... unless it's a very big dog.

[@Harpoquondrax]

@@M.E.M.O.10-50 He's a red heeler, so a medium-size dog, about 50 lbs. Still could do some damage for sure.

[@vshaynes]

I, also, got to see a mating flight and it was amazing. They sheer territory they covered as the soared back and forth across the key made it difficult to follow but even in the few moments, it was memorable.

[@lisahinton9682]

@Harpoquondrax Two things: spell things out unless you're 100% sure 100% of your audience will know the abbreviation. (For example, at a medical convention of physicians, "BP" is going to be understood as "blood pressure," and wouldn't need to be spelled out. But "PNW" is only going to be understood as "Pacific northwest" by people who live there and some of the rest of America, and virtually no-one else in the world.) Secondly, find another adjective other than that a-word that you used. English has tens of thousands of adjectives and that word is overused and misused every dang day. Don't be a lazy communicator.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Here are other cool national birds: The Andean Condor is the national bird of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador! As their name implies, they are found across the Andes, with a range stretching from Colombia to southern Argentina. With a maximum wingspan of 3.3 m and weight of 15 kg, the Andean condor is one of the largest flying birds in the world and is generally considered to be the largest bird of prey in the world. The harpy eagle or American harpy eagle is the national bird of Panama. They are the largest eagle in the Americas with a length of 3 feet and a weight of 13 pounds! The harpy eagle was actually the inspiration for Fawkes the Phoenix in the Harry Potter movies as well. The African fish eagle is the national bird of Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Namibia. They look similar to a bald eagle, though its closest relative appears is the Madagascar fish eagle. Both the flags of Zambia and Zimbabwe feature this bird. The bird on the Zimbabwe flag is a soapstone carving of a fish eagle found at the Great Zimbabwe ruins. The Bermuda petrel is the national bird of Bermuda. This bird was thought to be extinct for 300 years until eighteen pairs were rediscovered in Bermuda's Castle Harbour in 1951! The grey crowned crane is the national bird of Uganda and appears on their flag. This species and the black crowned crane are the only cranes that can roost in trees, because of a long hind toe that can grasp branches. This trait is assumed to be an ancestral trait among the cranes, which has been lost in the other subfamily. Crowned cranes also lack a coiled trachea and have loose plumage

[@justynetubbs211]

I've always been jealous of India for having such a stunningly beautiful national bird: the peacock.

[@JETZcorp]

The increase in population has been really remarkable. Even as a 90s kid in Oregon, I don't think I ever saw one until I was in my teens. Now I see them almost weekly. They really are stunning to see in person. There might theoretically be a prettier bird in existence, but certainly none that are also the size of a small pterodactyl. They really knew what they were doing when they named the F-15 after it.

[@heatherpayne1995]

Yep. Growing up in PDX I rarely saw them. There's a few nesting pairs within a few miles of my house and I see them fairly often. I love seeing them. Though their "cry" kind of sounds like the birds are giggling.

[@AdamantineAxe]

In the '90's it was common to see every post of the fence around the Vancouver dump occupied by a bald eagle waiting for a rat to move. You'd see lots of them at once perched in the trees around the south entrance of the Massey tunnel as well. There might be less coming here now due to the declining salmon runs.

[@DaytonaRoadster]

yeah when i was a kid in the 80s they were almost all gone outside of Alaska. Glad to see them come back

[@commandermudpie]

I was 16 years-old before I saw my first wild bald eagle in the state of Washington in 1978. It was sort of mystical. I am an avid birder and I now see this amazing creature several times a year in Michigan. What a great success story.... what a great bird!

[@DiggerWhoops]

You're the nicest, most informative and entertaining grumpy old man I know! Thanks!!!!

[@redbullbundy]

When I was a kid in the 80s you never saw bald eagles. In the late 90s they were everywhere. Now you see them eating road kill in the roadside. I still get excited when I see them. 😊

[@LaineyBug2020]

There is a bridge close to my house where a lot of Bald Eagles roost each winter. They had to rebuild the bridge to accommodate all the people that park to watch and take photos of the Eagles fishing in the river. From my house, you can see the adults teaching the juveniles how to ride the currents and dive!

[@Callylily7]

That's fascinating.

[@geegs120]

That sounds fantastic! What state are u in if u don't mind saying?

[@rhombo323]

I love how Shaemus is a unit of measure

[@darlameeks]

Congratulations on your U.S. citizenship! I live in Florida, and though our state bird is the Osprey (I have a pair of them nesting near my home), we also have lots of Bald Eagles. We also have the occasional, and much larger, Golden Eagle.

[@NotYourEveryDayAlex]

From Florida, the state bird is definitely the mockingbird

[@miamidolphinsfan]

Hands down, my favorite episode of Lost in the Pond !!!! Bravo Laurence ! Thank you brother

[@francesT5877]

I moved to the US in the 80s to western Massachusetts, and bald eagles then were not common. Their population has made a wonderful recovery both here and in coastal Maine where I visit often. I often see them near the Connecticut river and sometimes on the same drive up to Maine I will see one or both of a nesting pair over the tidal river near where I go. They are a lovely sight, but more importantly when they are healthy, there are also healthy populations of prey animals. I hope all these beautiful places will continue to be protected.

[@FR-tb7xh]

Agreed. Your observations are interesting, and make total sense! Did you know the Connecticut River is famous for its spawning shad population? Every EO February or mid-March, they run up the river to lay their eggs, similar to salmon. Highly coveted is the shads’ roe, which has been a late-winter culinary favorite of my family for generations. Nothing is more delicious than a ‘pair,’ dredged and broiled with bacon, atop a Caesar with a lemon wedge and piece of fresh crusty bread! Surely bald eagles would prize them as much. Sadly, the Connecticut River’s migrating shad population has dropped precipitously the past few years. Commensurately, it’s become scarcer in the markets and very expensive, if you can find it at all. Already for years, I’d had to special order them from my local ‘fish monger,’ whom hit the Boston docks first thing every morning. But the past two, not even he could find them, at any price.

[@riggs20]

I am a Florida native, and it’s still pretty special when we spot one. It makes your day. 😊

[@jackgilchrist]

The eagle cry they use in movies, etc., is often a red tail hawk. Another gorgeous raptor. Used to have one flying around my house every day, and we'd call back and forth to each other. I've seen plenty of bald eagles here in Washington state (and Oregon), but never so close as when I went to Alaska the first time. The first night there I pitched my tent on the beach of the Homer spit, and when I woke up the next morning there were several eagles on the beach with me, including one within about ten feet of my tent, munching on a salmon. It was quite the sight.

[@tommyvictorbuch6960]

Outstanding, Laurence. There's the book "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson, for those who want to know more about the DDT catastrophe.

[@alainaaugust1932]

In the last five years two breeding pairs have been spotted on Cape Cod. Since nests also overlook the Pacific, we now have bald eagles from sea to shining sea. The long journey from DDT in 1972 has been fantastically successful. Each bonded pair has a territory about a mile in circumference around their nest tree. That’s a lot of territory left for them to claim, especially around all bodies of water. You may see one in a wooded park near you in your lifetime. Alleluia, one success we may all rejoice over. And the worldwide inter-zoo breeding of big cats is going well also. Tigers, cheetahs having 4-5 babies, all living and growing up to make babies in turn-in the wild 2-3 babies might survive.

[@ruthwilliams9882]

There is a bald eagle's nest just a mile north of my house. We're in highly suburbanized Noblesville, Indiana. We often see eagles flying over our house. Even ten years ago, a rare sight.

[@swordsmen8856]

I remember being 8 years old and seeing a good number of these at the Land Between the Lakes Park. They really are amazing birds.

[@GrumpyMeow-Meow]

I was 61 before I moved to Florida and saw a bald eagle for the very first time. I got a photo of it but my hands were shaking from excitement so it’s not very good, lol. Love the wedding reception pics, btw.

[@Ronlawhouston]

When I was young (late 1960's) DDT was a commonly used pesticide. It greatly affected apex predator birds. So at that time the bald eagle was high on the endangered list.

[@shrodingerschat2258]

I live in a rural area of central Ohio, and we have a pair of bald eagles that make an appearance from time to time. They are the most majestic birds you have ever seen, and to spot one so close to where I live is truly a surreal experience!

[@ParkDari]

They are often around lakes in Tennessee. They are shockingly large when you encounter them personally. You always feel great when you see one fly😊

[@mollysmom4]

They are truly shockingly large.

[@Bauks]

I saw a Bald eagle yesterday on my way to Menards. Duluth MN. They are pretty common around here.

[@willthornsbury2913]

I live near a nature preserve with Eagles. I have to watch my little white dog so it doesn't end up dinner. I've definitely caught my dog licking a fish in the back yard that an eagle grabbed out of the lake and then dropped inside my fence.

[@priscillajimenez27]

They mate for life, love big houses by the water, some land to oversee, and have 2-3 children. Sounds like the American dream. ❤😊

[@RoxanneRichardson]

I'm old enough to remember learning in school about bald eagles being endangered (back in the late 1960s). 25 years later, I saw bald eagles for the first time, while on a river boat cruise (in Minnesota). Such a thrill! In the past few years, I've seen bald eagles perched in neighborhood trees, and even saw one swoop through our next door neighbor's back yard. Truly amazing.

[@hizzy70]

Bald eagle crys are actually one of my favorite bird calls

[@RepellentJeff]

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Kodiak Alaska. Around the wharfs, especially when a fishing boat comes in, bald eagles become as numerous as seagulls. The locals are used to them, but getting to see _at least_ a dozen of them roosting in a single pine tree remains one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.

[@JD-tn5lz]

Most of us locals absolutely hate them. When you visit Alaska you're usually not here long enough to see their bad habits and behavior. Nasty dirty birds

[@libbylandscape3560]

There are a lot of bald Eagles where I live that nest in my trees in late winter/early spring to raise their young. Blew my mind the first time I saw them. ❤

[@Beck248]

Living in Wisconsin we get to see them fly around every once in awhile. Always a beautiful sight ❤

[@jonathangebert3006]

Agreed. I spent a lot of time fishing along the Wolf River when I was growing up and I saw eagles quite often.

[@brianstone6463]

My step-aunt used to own a camp site on Lake Menomin, and we used to help with the trash pickup when we visited. There was a Bald Eagle nest on the opposite side of the lake next to the camp, and we always made time to take a boat out to check on it. Those were fun times.

[@JPKnapp-ro6xm]

A favorite place to see them in Wisconsin is just below the dam in Prairie du Sac in the dead of winter. The entire river is ice-covered so the eagles crowd around to fish in the open water at the dam. Easy to park and see them from your car.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

More bald eagle facts: The bald eagle can exert grip pressure upward of 400 pounds per square inch. Researchers believe that a bald eagle's gripping strength is about 10 times that of an adult human hand. The bald eagle is a sacred bird in different Native American cultures, and its feathers, like those of the golden eagle, are central to many religious and spiritual customs among Native Americans. Eagles are considered spiritual messengers between gods and humans by some cultures. In the Navajo tradition an eagle feather is represented to be a protector. In Lakota tradition, they give an eagle feather as a symbol of honor to a person who achieves a task, like graduation. The reason the bald eagle was chosen as a national symbol is because the founders were fond of comparing their new republic with the Roman Republic, in which eagle imagery (usually involving the golden eagle) was prominent. And it was in June 1782 that the Continental Congress adopted the design for the Great Seal of the United States, depicting a bald eagle grasping 13 arrows and an olive branch with thirteen leaves with its talons. Contrary to popular legend, there is no evidence that Benjamin Franklin ever publicly supported the wild turkey as a symbol of the US over the bald eagle. However, in a letter written to his daughter in 1784 from Paris, criticizing the Society of the Cincinnati (founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War), he stated his personal distaste for the bald eagle's behavior.

[@hobbyfarmer62]

Yep got them here in western Washington and through about half the year because we are living on a river with salmon spawning in it so there are lots around counted 14 in 1 tree from my porch yesterday. There was even a mated pair nesting near by for about 12 years here, it was the size of a Volkswagen beetle.

[@brendaokuda2158]

"America will always do the right thing....only after trying everything else". Truer words may have never been uttered, sir. Which begs the question, WHY are we so darn hard headed? Much respect from East Texas 💖💖💖

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

The Nene is quite unique! The Hawaiian name nēnē comes from its soft call. The specific name sandvicensis refers to the Sandwich Islands, the name Captain Cook gave to the Hawaiian Islands. They look similar to a Canada goose, and this is because they evolved from it! The Canada goose most likely arrived on the islands about 500,000 years ago, shortly after the island of Hawaiʻi was formed. This ancestor is the progenitor of the nēnē as well as the prehistoric giant Hawaiʻi goose and nēnē-nui. The giant Hawai'i goose was four times larger than the nēnē and was endemic to the Big Island while the nēnē is also found on the other islands. Introduced animals like dogs and cats have led to the decline of many Hawaiian birds. Also, people tend to think that Ben Franklin proposed the wild turkey to be the national symbol of the US, but this is actually a myth! This false story began due to a letter Franklin wrote to his daughter criticizing the original eagle design for the Great Seal, saying that it looked more like a turkey. In the letter, Franklin wrote that the “Bald Eagle...is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly…[he] is too lazy to fish for himself.” About the turkey, Franklin wrote that in comparison to the bald eagle, the turkey is “a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America...He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage.” So, although Benjamin Franklin defended the honor of the turkey, he did not propose it become one of America’s most important symbols.

[@Tokahfang]

Franklin wasn't wrong!! The locals get most of their food by robbing the ospreys.

[@tee4222]

So that’s what all the rappers were talking about! Good to know they were just bird lovers cause I thought it was something inappropriate… 😅

[@MM-jf1me]

Interesting info! Thanks for sharing your bird knowledge with us.

[@appaloosa42]

Turkey wont get off the ground if walking will serve, won’t flap if gliding is enough and flying look like winged potato sacks. 😊

[@BobHildebrand]

Your mostly deadpan delivery makes this eminently enjoyable, thank you

[@duanelavely5481]

As a resident of Idaho, I hope that you were also able to see the bird that was the second favorite for the national bird. That bird is the "wild turkey" & I don't mean the bourbon. When I moved to Idaho, I was amazed at the size of both the bald eagle & the wild turkey. My 1st trip to the local vet, I was warned to watch out for eagles preying on my small dog. I have seen a video of an eagle snatching up a miniature poodle. One winter, I had 33 wild turkeys hanging out at my house in the mountains. I fed them sunflower seeds all winter. That's when I got another surprise which was the sound that they make when they take off from the ground. By the way, wild turkeys can fly! They are so big that when they take off it sounds like a helicopter beating the air against the ground. They go whoosh, whoosh. They will fly 30' - 40' up into the trees to roost for the night.

[@esm1817]

My dad used to tell me that that very sound was a wild turkey, growing up. Haha. I never saw one, so I assumed he was making that up. My dad's a pretty awesome dude, and he can make up a pretty good story with a deadpan face.

[@whitelacey333]

I am seeing more and more wild turkeys in SW Ohio as well as Eagles n the River. Both are amazing.

[@cynthiajohnston424]

We have an amazing amount of wild turkeys here in Vermilon County ( east central ) Illinois . Very common to see literally dozens in a field , so much so that we regard them as common as squirrels in our yards . Years ago , my husband was a founding member of our area " Wild Turkey Federation " ( similar to Ducks Unlimited & Pheasants Forever ) .

[@trob1731]

As a kid in the '60s in NW Washington, seeing a bald eagle was a once in a lifetime experience. Now we see them almost daily! Other birds of prey were affected by ddt as well. But they also have recovered quite nicely.

[@spiercephotography]

I'm watching an Eagle Nest Camera in another tab, i can't even begin to describe my delight in seeing this crop up in my feed while i was going over to open up a different one in another tab 😂 I love your videos on birds, but maybe that's cause i'm a dove and eagle fan. Great video Laurence! It's so fun to see things through your eyes as a "new" American. There'salso several organizations around that you can contribute to that goes towards the conservation/restoration of Bald Eagles! I follow and contribute to a particular one, IWS-Institute for Wildlife Studies- that does a lot of work around the Channel Islands National Park in California.

[@toddthreess9624]

We have some living round our little lake here in NW Connecticut. They are sure a sight to behold. I'm glad we finally got it together and decided to protect them. It was worth the effort.

[@DamonCzanik]

I saw a bald eagle up close once. I was no more than four feet away from it. It stared at me as if it was peering into my very soul. Not afraid. Not intimidated. Just looking at me. Let me tell you, video doesn't do it justice. Magnificent animal. After my dad became a US citizen he collected a bunch pictures of bald.eagles. My home was filled with them. I never understood what the big deal was until I saw one in person. Now, I get it.

[@coloneljackmustard]

I got within two feet of two of them perched on a bridge. They have no fear.

[@shadowofchaos8932]

They are as far south as Northern Indiana. Many are counted by the DNR now and we saw one yesterday in Gobles, Michigan.

[@zetsubouda]

I had seen a bald eagle that was being cared for in an animal shelter in the past but the first time I saw one in the wild was amazing. They really are breathtaking. Raptors are just such fascinating animals. Awesome choice for a video.

[@zetsubouda]

By the way the usual cry you hear is a red tailed hawk, another very fascinating bird!

[@FLS96]

I'm puzzled by how few compliments you get about your great sense of humour so here's one! I'm neither American or British but one of the main things that had me subscribe was the good laughs I get from your videos. Of course they're interesting as well. Keep 'em going!

[@IosuamacaMhadaidh]

Bald Eagle cries are overdubbed with Red Tailed Hawk cries.

[@Torrentialdownpurr]

I live off of Lake Erie in Ohio. Tons, tons of nests and babies and Eagles flying around. They were endangered when I was growing up in the 90s, now they are literally like any other bird in the sky but super majestic and im still awestruck whenever I see them!!

[@gl15col]

Whenever I think about the eagles recovery, I think about the John Denver song, "The Eagle and The Hawk". I'm a sentimental old fool, it brings tears to my eyes every time.

[@MinofDeath]

Growing up in the70s in North Carolina Bald Eagles were so rare never saw one outside of captivity but now you can see them all over the lakes in the state also the coast it’s an amazing sight

[@diamondlou1]

I was startled to find a bald eagle feasting on some roadkill as I came around a sharp curve near my home (rural NC). It flew away just in time, right above my car. I was amazed at how massive (and beautiful) it was. It was the thrill of a lifetime to be that close to one.

[@TheYardninja]

I also first saw one in rural NC (out by Harmony) then I learned there are quite a a few in Charlotte of all places

[@tyrport]

I have a Bald Eagle nest 20 meters from my house. They’re amazing.

[@Mona-v6j2g]

Thank you so much for honoring the eagle. And no, I didn’t know just how close we were in losing eagle forever but I’m so glad we cleaned up just in time to save the eagles. Too close. This is one of your best vlog yet. Again, thank you for letting us know. Keep it up.

[@crazyjoeshorts5256]

My town is home to a few. When I was a kid, they were endangered, so watching them is more majestic. Whenever my wife or I spot one, we yell out "Eagle!"

[@mdcampbell7360]

I took my HS prom date to dinner at the Eagle's Nest in the 80s and 13 years later my wife (different lass 🙂) took me there for my 30th birthday. We live just east of Indy now and there are at least 3 active eagle nests in our county, one pair has raised nearly 30 eaglets over the past dozen years or so.

[@agirlnamedbrett.]

i grew up close to one of the biggest dams on the east coast, the Conowingo Dam in Maryland and Bald Eagles were a common occurance, they have def. increased in numbers as I've gotten older which is actually AWESOME.

[@mistingwolf]

I love that you opened with the etymology of the bird's name! Thanks for that. I love its calls, too, and I always feel lucky to see one. I do live in Minnesota and there's lots of rivers around my area, so they do appear now and again, though they're still pretty rare. Yes, they are mainly fishers, but they are not above scavenging roadkill.

[@nicholaspawelski1031]

If you are looking for a good place to see eagles in the winter that is reasonably near Chicago, you should go to Starved Rock State Park along the Illinois River. It is also a nice place to go year-round.

[@MrHermit12]

There is a red tailed hawk around my house. So I get the iconic screech sometimes.

[@Dr._Ghost]

Their song is so nostalgic to me, i have the honor of seeing quite a few of them on my side of the states

[@cherylflam3250]

You are too funny…🎼”Take it Easy “ ! Most outside the U.S. will not get it ! You ARE an American !! 😊

[@sandyhossman7771]

I live near the shores of Lake Erie, in NW Pennsylvania. We see them often now, and i am always excited to see them soaring .

[@youdontknowme5969]

Such a majestic creature. and the American Bald Eagle too 😊

[@Babettenow]

That might be how they chirp but their cry is magnificent and does sound a lot like in the movie. Seen and heard in person. Magnificent.

[@jamesleyda365]

The Bald Eagle is one of the most awesomely majestic creatures on Earth.. absolutely beautiful. I watch them on the Skagit, Spokane and mighty Columbia rivers here in Washington State

[@jamescaron6465]

I remember seeing my first one. I could not believe how big they are and just how magnificently graceful are in the air. Pictures do not do them justice. I watched it until it flew out of sight. I still watch them whenever I see one.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

I saw one in Hamilton Ontario, Canada years ago and was told I was mistaken. A few years later they announced that they had returned to the Royal Botanical Gardens/Cootes Paradise for the first time in countless decades. Magnificent creatures.

[@cheryla7480]

For some reason they don’t seem to like Ontario, because in actuality Canada has more bald eagles than the US. The largest single population is in Alaska, around 70,000, the 2nd largest in BC. At 20, O00. But overall the US. population is at 315,000 and Canada’s is 500,000. As they especially like to nest near bodies of water it makes sense as Canada has more lakes than the entire world combined.

[@robertpearson8798]

I saw one in Hamilton about twenty years ago and saw one again a few months ago. Many of them fly through our area on migration to Northern Quebec. We were also once told that Opossums didn’t exist here until someone caught one in a live trap and showed it the Ministry of Natural Resources. Until recently it was officially denied that Lyme disease existed in our area despite people contracting it. Take the official proclamations with a grain of salt.

[@LaurieLeeAnnie]

This completely depends on where you are in Ontario!

[@mikecurry6847]

I live in Michigan and for the last several years, I've been seeing more and more bald eagles. I haven't seen one all winter but once it warms up a bit, I'll see one every few weeks

[@MERollered]

One of the best things that came out of the pandemic for my city (Salem, Oregon) is because we didn't have our fireworks over the river those two years, it attracted a pair of bald eagles to nest in the park across the river from the city. Due to their nesting they moved the firework show to the fairgrounds (better place for it imo, situated for parking and hosting large crowds) and doing so they didn't scare off the eagles.

[@jasonjazzz5]

live in north MN near Canada, get 1 that likes to fly over the river through town every now and then. always a joy to see out on a walk

[@ladyjustice1474]

The bald eagle is a stunning bird, breath taking when in flight.

[@hanman0894]

Indeed, very majestic.

[@adamfournier6735]

Here in coastal Ga, I have seen them pluck fish out of the water not even 50 yds from where I was fishing. What an incredible sight.

[@Lynn-kh5rs]

@Lost in the Pond: If you ever make it to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN you need to stop by their Bald Eagle enclosure. The enclosure has several pairs of bald eagles under the care of the American Bald Eagle Foundation. These are birds that cannot be released into the wild because they would not survive. Their offspring however are released into the Great Smokey Mountains. Edited to add: BTW, it is the largest exhibit of non-releasable bald eagles in the U.S.

[@AstraSystem]

Their gorgeous birds. They make an awesome national bird.

[@Sausketo]

Eagle conservation is so serious here, you can get charged for knowingly finding and keeping a bald eagle feather

[@3rdFloorblog]

We have the pleasure of seeing eagles in the Lawrence Kansas area...they are truly a magnificent sight behold.

[@jerrihadding2534]

“America will always do the right thing. But only after trying everything else.” No truer words spoken. Bless you.

[@mikelucey5035]

Well, I would guess that someone would try to solve a problem different ways until something works, then just stick with that.

[@Abandoned_Brane]

The stop using pcbs I think made these birds comeback.the pcbs would make their eggs very brittle and break before the chicks could hatch. Now they're literally everywhere.

[@Shako_Lamb]

That was DDT, not PCBs. It is mentioned in the video.

[@stleo3980]

Laurence, this winter you might take a (fairly) short trip to the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center, which is actually a visitor center overlooking the Starved Rock Lock and Dam on the Illinois River. That itself is kinda cool (once) but the center also has a really good view of Plum Island, a bird sanctuary that is home to hundreds of bald eagles every winter. Or if you'd rather, you can cross over to the south bank (there's a bridge downstream at Utica) and go to Starved Rock State Park (a really cool place) and you can see the same island and lots of eagles from the top of Starved Rock itself. But then, at the lock and dam visitor center, it's a short walk from the parking lot to a nice, warm, indoor viewing area and mini-museum (and bathrooms), while over at the park you get to climb up the backside of the Rock to get the view. I've always found that trail to be interesting in the snow, but it's your call. Either way, you'll see lots of eagles.

[@cate9540]

I've only ever seen one, and that was while rafting in Alaska. There was a large flat rock in the middle of the river and an eagle was perched on it. Until that moment, I had no real concept of how big they are. It's an amazing sight to see them spread their wings and take off. We have a lot of hawks where I live in Michigan, but I've never encountered an eagle here.

[@malagastehlaate230]

As your neighbor in Iowa I can say I see them quite regularly... but then I live near a larger river... I never saw them when I was younger... but that was in the 70's and 80's when they were severely endangered... but I see them quite frequently now. I see a lot more birds and birds of prey these days. Owls, red tailed hawks and such... always love to see them.

[@lisaburt7118]

Born in the USA, but didn’t know half of these facts about our national bird. Thanks Lawrence!

[@matthewdockter2424]

@3:30 "Kidnapped a Trout" Great delivery, that humor is why I appreciate your videos.

[@happycommuter3523]

The call of the red tailed hawk is usually what’s dubbed in for eagles in the media. Eagles are HUGE if you ever get to see one up close. Coastal Maine is a good place to view them. I saw quite a few during my last trip to Acadia National Park.

[@wonnacottyledon]

Dude is not kidding about a conservation success story: I was born in 1982, and grew up in rural Oregon. I was outside all the time, my family camped, I was a boy scout, etc. I think I maybe saw a handful of Bald Eagles in the wild. Now I live in Portland, and I see one cruising the Willamette river about once a month, so much so that I saw one do a close flyby of the Ross Island Bridge, during rush hour. Same thing for Red Tailed Hawks and Osprey; as a kid, a sighting of any of these birds was a special thing, and now I see them all the time, everywhere I go in the state.

[@ZackHamlin1]

I’m from middle Georgia where I rarely see bald eagles, but just spent a year living in eastern Virginia. There are LOADS of bald eagles! I feel like I saw dozens, and there were stretches during the summer I would see 2-3 every single day.

[@thefolder69]

Virginia represent! saw 4 bald eagles this morning, they really are fairly common, but it never makes them less impressive to me