🦅 The Triumphant Return of America’s National Symbol
Once teetering on the brink of extinction, the bald eagle—a powerful icon of American pride and freedom—has made a remarkable recovery.
In 1963, their population had dwindled to just 417 nesting pairs across the continental United States. Today, that number has soared to over 71,400 pairs, thanks to decades of conservation efforts, including hunting bans, habitat protection, and especially the elimination of DDT, a pesticide known to cause reproductive failure in eagles.
"The bald eagle’s recovery is one of the greatest conservation success stories of all time," said Martha Williams, Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), found on the U.S. national seal, is an impressive predator with a wingspan of up to 2.3 meters and nests that can weigh over a ton. The largest recorded nest was nearly 4 meters deep!
This inspiring rebound story reminds us that with commitment and unity, species on the verge of vanishing can rise once again—stronger and freer.
