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1. Bald Eagles are carnivores, since they only eat meat.  What is their main source of food?

The Bald Eagle’s main food source is fish. They will also eat smaller birds, other bird's eggs and small animals like rabbits, reptiles, amphibians and crabs.

2. Bald Eagles take their prey live, fresh, or as carrion.  Can you give a definition of carrion?

Carrion is the decaying flesh of dead animals.  Bald Eagles often will eat already-dead fish or mammals, rather than doing the work to capture and kill it themselves.​

3. How long do Bald Eagles live?

The Bald Eagle’s average life span in the wild is up to 28 years. They get their white plumage at 5.5 years.

4. Bald Eagles are believed to be monogamous animals.  What does monogamous mean and can you name any other monogamous animals?

To be monogamous is for a male and female of a species to form a pair and stay together throughout their whole life. Some other familiar animals that mate for life are beaver, swans, barn owls, mourning doves, and coyotes.

5. How many young do Bald Eagles typically raise?

They lay 1-3 eggs, but most commonly, one pair of eggs each year.

6. Does the male or female build their nest and do they use the same nest year after year?

Both sexes bring materials to the nest, but the female does most of the placement. They weave together sticks and fill in the cracks with softer material such as grass, moss, or cornstalks. The inside of the nest is lined first with lichen or other fine woody material, then with downy feathers and sometimes sprigs of greenery. Nests can take up to three months to build, and may be reused (and added to) year after year. A nest in Ohio was used for 34 years before the tree blew down.

7. Bald Eagles are powerful fliers - soaring, gliding, and flapping over long distances.  They have a spectacular courtship display where a male and female fly high into the sky, lock talons, and cartwheel downward together, breaking off at the last instant to avoid crashing to earth.  Besides the ultimate purpose to attract a receptive mate, there are other purposes behind this type of courtship behavior.  Can you think of what they could be?

Different courtship behaviors can reduce territorial aggression, letting two birds relax together to form a pair bond. Depending on the behavior, how birds react in courtship can also display strength, health, intelligence, and mating desirability. This allows different birds to choose the best partners and ensure viable, healthy offspring.

8. Raptors are birds of prey, meaning they kill and eat mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, rodents, and even other birds.  Can you name any other raptors?

Other raptors are hawks, owls, osprey, falcons, and condors.  

9. All birds of prey tend to have large curved beaks and sharp talons that are very powerful. How are these body parts used?

Their talons allow them to pick up and carry prey great distances, while their sharp beaks are perfect for tearing off bite-sized pieces to eat.

10. Where do eagles sleep and what keeps them from falling off their perch?

During the breeding season, adults sleep either at the nest or on a branch in the nest tree or nearby tree. Eagles have a specialized mechanism in their foot that allows them to lock it in position so they can sleep without controlling it. This is similar in concept to a horse sleeping standing up.