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Majestic in the Sky

Volume 1, Issue 1

April, 2012

Eagle vs. Turkey: America's First Bird Controversy

Nations often adopt animals as symbols: England has its lion, India its peacock. After independence, members of Congress consulted with William Barton, a Philadelphia artist who produced a design that included a golden eagle.
Because the golden eagle also flew over European nations, however, the federal lawmakers specified that the bird in the seal should be an American bald eagle. On June 20, 1782, they approved the design that we recognize today.
At the time, the new nation was still at war with England, and the fierce-looking bird seemed to be an appropriate emblem. But from the start, the eagle was a controversial choice. Franklin scowled at it. "For my part," he declared, "I wish the eagle had not been chosen as the representative of this country. He is a bird of bad moral character; he does not get his living honestly. You may have seen him perched in some dead tree where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing hawk and, when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish and is bearing it to his nest for his young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes the fish. With all this injustice, he is never in good case."
Some people have since questioned whether the eagle would have been chosen to adorn the seal had the nation not been at war.
A year after the Treaty of Paris ended the conflict with Great Britain, Franklin argued that the turkey would have been a more appropriate symbol. "A much more respectable bird and a true native of America," he pointed out. Franklin conceded that the turkey was "a little vain and silly," but maintained that it was nevertheless a "bird of courage" that "would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on." Congress was not convinced, however. The eagle remained our national symbol.

Great Controversy!
June 20, 1782 Eagle became our National Bird.
Franklin Disagreed, He said “ he is a bird of bad moral character.
He argued the turkey would be a much more respectable bird and a native of America.

Endangered Species Status

Classified as threatened in all states except Alaska. The environmental threats present in many other states are absent in Alaska

Ingestion of pesticides
Ingestion of lead-contaminated waterfowl
Illegal shooting
Ingestion of lead shot and lead fishing sinkers
Mercury, PCBs, dioxins and other chemicals which accumulate in fish
Habitat destruction through deforestation
Habitat destruction through flooding of bottomland hardwood ecosystems
Human disturbance of nest sites
Collisions with power lines Collisions with vehicles

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Sacred Symbols

The bald eagle has been considered sacred among Native Americans, who adorned themselves with its feathers to represent various degrees of rank or prowess in battle.
Among some Native American cultures, eagle feathers were so sacred that they were never to touch the ground; the individual who let them do so would fear a curse.
Most — if not all — of the 500-odd Native American tribes held eagles in high esteem, viewing these strong, high-soaring birds as a connection between people and the Creator.
Bald eagles are still featured at the top of the center pole during the sun dance, an important religious ceremony among Plains Indians. Shoshones use eagle feathers in sweats and to bless people. An eagle feather is one of the greatest gifts that can be given to another person.
Native Americans are not allowed to shoot eagles and other raptors or take them from the wild — even for traditional ceremonial purposes. While the average person can not obtain hawk or eagle feathers at all, however, Native Americans can. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers a permit system that allows Native Americans to receive eagles or other raptors that have been killed by human causes.
When eagles collide with power lines or are hit by cars, for example, their bodies go to a repository managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There, experts study the birds in order to understand how they died and what factors are causing eagle mortalities. After these factors have been noted, the eagles' bodies can be distributed to Native American tribes, expressly for ceremonial uses.

Held Sacred by Many Native American Tribes

Physical Characteristics

Mating: Bald eagles mate for life, selecting another mate only if their mate should die.
Nesting: Eagles lay two to three eggs in a nest located in a tall tree or occasionally on top of a cliff within 100 miles of where they were hatched. The nest is often is used year after year with recorded diameters of 10 feet and weighing one ton.
Chicks: A chick measuring four to five inches and weighing only a matter of ounces hatches after an incubation period of 35 days. Only ten percent of chicks survive to adulthood, or five years old. Most die of starvation.
Parenting: While the male does most of the hunting and scavenging, the female does the majority of the feeding and brooding.

“Only 10% of chicks survive to adulthood, or 5 years of age. Most die of starvation.

Eagle Habitat

The Bald eagle prefers habitat close to seacoast or even other water bodies such as lakes. The Bald eagle love to be in areas that have an abundance of fish. It is also generally spotted in areas that are free from human interference. The Bald eagle is often seen in areas of North America. It prefers deciduous forest. This bird selects hardwood trees for roosting and nesting. During the breeding season, the Bald eagle shifts its location towards south from the northern areas of Canada or Alaska. This is in search of fish for food and this move usually occurs by late October. The Bald eagle particular chooses its habitat in relation to the nests it wishes to build. These birds build large nests, which have a depth of about 2 feet and a width of about 5 feet. It lines the nests with a variety of things such as twigs, grass, moss etc.

Majestic in the Sky