#4

I chose the Southern Bald Eagle, better known as just the Bald Eagle as the endangered species I wanted to write about. I chose this animal because I have always loved how massive and beautiful they are, and it is one of my father’s favorite animals. The Bald Eagle is recognized as a bird of prey that can weigh up to 15 pounds and has the wingspan of an average-sized grown man. These birds live in areas close to bodies of water such as wetlands, by the coast, lakes, rivers, and marshes. This animal is not only our National Bird but a very beautiful creature that contributes to the environment in an extremely positive way. Because this animal is our nation’s bird this means that it is protected both by the state and on a federal level. Recently the population of these birds has been on the rise which is obviously a really amazing thing, but at the peak of being endangered the main reason was eating contaminated fish in the water mostly from a pesticide known as DDT. Bald eagles contribute to the environment by regulating the population of other birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates such as crabs, and mammals including rabbits and muskrats. This regulates a number of marine plant and land plant species that are often used to feed animals of greater importance, as well as contributing to the oxygen levels in the atmosphere. Bald Eagles are beautiful birds and represent freedom even though they have become a species of less concern it does not mean that they still do not need to be watched over and protected. (270)