![banjon > Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - 2008 Bald Eagles Gallery . and 2009 Bald Eagles Gallery
A bird of prey found in North America that is most recognizable as the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle. Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States and northern Mexico. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees (coniferous or hardwood) for nesting.
The Bald Eagle is a large bird, with a body length of 70–102 centimeters (28–40 in), a wingspan of up to 2.44 m (96 in), and a mass of 2.5–7 kilograms (5.5–15 lb). Females are about 25 percent larger than males It is the second largest raptor in North America after the Golden Eagle. Males and females are identical in plumage coloration. The adult Bald Eagle has a brown body with a white head and tail, and bright yellow irises, taloned feet, and a hooked beak. Juveniles are completely brown except for the yellow feet.
Its diet consists mainly of fish, but it is an opportunistic feeder. It hunts fish by swooping down and snatching the fish out of the water with its talons. It is sexually mature at four or five years of age. In the wild, Bald Eagles can live up to thirty years and often survive longer in captivity. The Bald Eagle builds the largest nest of any North American bird - up to 4 meters (13 ft) deep, 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) wide, and one tonne (1.1 tons) in weight.
Late in the 20th century, the species was on the brink of extinction due to over hunting in the continental United States (while flourishing in much of Alaska and Canada), but now has a stable population and has been officially removed from the U.S. federal government's list of endangered species. At minimum population, in the 1950s, it was largely restricted to Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, northern and eastern Canada, and Florida.
The Bald Eagle was officially reclassified from "Endangered" to "Threatened" on July 12, 1995 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. On July 6, 1999, a proposal was initiated "To Remove the Bald Eagle in the Lower 48 States from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife." and was de-listed on June 28, 2007. The Bald Eagle remains a protected and highly revered species in the United States. To willfully and fatally shoot or harm the species is a federal offense which can potentially result in several years of incarceration.
Bald Eagles will also congregate in certain locations in winter. From November until February or March. Sheffield Mills in Nova Scotia (where these photos were taken) hosts hundreds of Bald Eagles each year during that period. One to two thousand birds winter in Squamish, British Columbia, about halfway between Vancouver and Whistler. The birds primarily gather along the Squamish and Cheakamus Rivers, attracted by spawning salmon in the area.
The Bald Eagle is a powerful flier, and soars on thermal convection currents. It reaches speeds of 56–70 kilometers per hour (35–43 mph) when gliding and flapping, and about 48 kilometers per hour (30 mph) while carrying fish.[21] Its dive speed is between 120–160 kilometres per hour (75–99 mph), though it seldom dives vertically.[22] It is partially migratory, depending on location. If its territory has access to open water, it remains there year-round, but if the body of water freezes during the winter, making it impossible to obtain food, it migrates to the south or to the coast.
The Bald Eagle's diet is opportunistic and varied, but most feed mainly on fish - their most important prey. In the Pacific Northwest, spawning trout and salmon provide most of the Bald Eagles' diet. In 2009 , all along British Columbia's wild central coast and inland along traditional salmon run waterways, an ecological disaster is unfolding. There has been a (thusfar unexplained) collapse of salmon runs. The worst salmon disaster this year has been on the Fraser River on the south coast where 10.6 million sockeye salmon were expected, but only about 1.6 million returned. A loss of 9 million fish. This collapse not only threatens the Bald Eagles, but has already led to an extreme decline in the western Canadian bears population Grizzlies Starve as salmon disappear - Globe and Mail, Toronto.
Read more about diet, reproduction, relationships with humans, Eagles in captivity, role in Native American culture and more at: Wikipedia.org
Sheffield Mills, Nova Scotia. 21 March 2008](http://banjon.smugmug.com/Birding/Birding-List/BaldEagle01/646025949_xiLEJ-Ti.jpg "banjon > Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - 2008 Bald Eagles Gallery . and 2009 Bald Eagles Gallery
A bird of prey found in North America that is most recognizable as the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle. Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States and northern Mexico. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees (coniferous or hardwood) for nesting.
The Bald Eagle is a large bird, with a body length of 70–102 centimeters (28–40 in), a wingspan of up to 2.44 m (96 in), and a mass of 2.5–7 kilograms (5.5–15 lb). Females are about 25 percent larger than males It is the second largest raptor in North America after the Golden Eagle. Males and females are identical in plumage coloration. The adult Bald Eagle has a brown body with a white head and tail, and bright yellow irises, taloned feet, and a hooked beak. Juveniles are completely brown except for the yellow feet.
Its diet consists mainly of fish, but it is an opportunistic feeder. It hunts fish by swooping down and snatching the fish out of the water with its talons. It is sexually mature at four or five years of age. In the wild, Bald Eagles can live up to thirty years and often survive longer in captivity. The Bald Eagle builds the largest nest of any North American bird - up to 4 meters (13 ft) deep, 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) wide, and one tonne (1.1 tons) in weight.
Late in the 20th century, the species was on the brink of extinction due to over hunting in the continental United States (while flourishing in much of Alaska and Canada), but now has a stable population and has been officially removed from the U.S. federal government's list of endangered species. At minimum population, in the 1950s, it was largely restricted to Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, northern and eastern Canada, and Florida.
The Bald Eagle was officially reclassified from \"Endangered\" to \"Threatened\" on July 12, 1995 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. On July 6, 1999, a proposal was initiated \"To Remove the Bald Eagle in the Lower 48 States from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.\" and was de-listed on June 28, 2007. The Bald Eagle remains a protected and highly revered species in the United States. To willfully and fatally shoot or harm the species is a federal offense which can potentially result in several years of incarceration.
Bald Eagles will also congregate in certain locations in winter. From November until February or March. Sheffield Mills in Nova Scotia (where these photos were taken) hosts hundreds of Bald Eagles each year during that period. One to two thousand birds winter in Squamish, British Columbia, about halfway between Vancouver and Whistler. The birds primarily gather along the Squamish and Cheakamus Rivers, attracted by spawning salmon in the area.
The Bald Eagle is a powerful flier, and soars on thermal convection currents. It reaches speeds of 56–70 kilometers per hour (35–43 mph) when gliding and flapping, and about 48 kilometers per hour (30 mph) while carrying fish.[21] Its dive speed is between 120–160 kilometres per hour (75–99 mph), though it seldom dives vertically.[22] It is partially migratory, depending on location. If its territory has access to open water, it remains there year-round, but if the body of water freezes during the winter, making it impossible to obtain food, it migrates to the south or to the coast.
The Bald Eagle's diet is opportunistic and varied, but most feed mainly on fish - their most important prey. In the Pacific Northwest, spawning trout and salmon provide most of the Bald Eagles' diet. In 2009 , all along British Columbia's wild central coast and inland along traditional salmon run waterways, an ecological disaster is unfolding. There has been a (thusfar unexplained) collapse of salmon runs. The worst salmon disaster this year has been on the Fraser River on the south coast where 10.6 million sockeye salmon were expected, but only about 1.6 million returned. A loss of 9 million fish. This collapse not only threatens the Bald Eagles, but has already led to an extreme decline in the western Canadian bears population Grizzlies Starve as salmon disappear - Globe and Mail, Toronto.
Read more about diet, reproduction, relationships with humans, Eagles in captivity, role in Native American culture and more at: Wikipedia.org
Sheffield Mills, Nova Scotia. 21 March 2008")
![banjon > Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) Adult male.
A stocky, medium-sized bird that measures between 28–35 cm (11–14 in) in length with a wingspan of between 48–58 cm (19–23 in). Birds usually weigh 140–170 g (4.9–6 oz)
This species has a large head with a shaggy crest. Its long heavy bill is black with a grey base. This kingfisher shows reverse sexual dimorphism, with the female more brightly coloured than the male. Both sexes have a slate blue head, large white collar, a large blue band on the breast, and white underparts. The back and wings are slate blue with black feather tips. The female features a rufous band across the upper belly that extends down the flanks. Juveniles of this species are similar to adults, but both sexes feature the rufous band on the upper belly. Juvenile males will have a rufous band that is somewhat mottled while the band on females will be much thinner than that on adult females.
This bird's breeding habitat is near inland bodies of waters or coasts across most of Canada, Alaska and the United States. They migrate from the northern parts of its range to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the West Indies and northern South America in winter. During migration it may stray far from land; the species is recorded as an accidental visitor on oceanic islands such as Clarion[5], and has occurred as an extremely rare vagrant in Iceland, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
in warmer areas it is a permanent resident. It leaves the northern parts of its range when the water freezes. A few individuals may linger in the north even in the coldest winters (except in the Arctic), if there are remaining open bodies of water.
The Belted Kingfisher is often seen perched prominently on trees, posts, or other suitable "watchpoints" close to water before plunging in head first after its fish prey. They also eat amphibians, small crustaceans, insects, small mammals and reptiles.
This bird nests in a horizontal tunnel made in a river bank or sand bank and excavated by both parents. The female lays five to eight eggs and both adults incubate the eggs and feed the young.
The nest of the belted kingfisher is a long tunnel and often slopes uphill. One possible reason for the uphill slope is in the case of flooding the chicks will be able to survive in the air pocket formed by the elevated end of the tunnel. Source: Wikipedia.org .
Shore Road, Grand Desert, Nova Scotia. 20 September 2008](http://banjon.smugmug.com/Birding/Birding-List/KingFisher01a/646435588_4FEMC-Ti.jpg "banjon > Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) Adult male.
A stocky, medium-sized bird that measures between 28–35 cm (11–14 in) in length with a wingspan of between 48–58 cm (19–23 in). Birds usually weigh 140–170 g (4.9–6 oz)
This species has a large head with a shaggy crest. Its long heavy bill is black with a grey base. This kingfisher shows reverse sexual dimorphism, with the female more brightly coloured than the male. Both sexes have a slate blue head, large white collar, a large blue band on the breast, and white underparts. The back and wings are slate blue with black feather tips. The female features a rufous band across the upper belly that extends down the flanks. Juveniles of this species are similar to adults, but both sexes feature the rufous band on the upper belly. Juvenile males will have a rufous band that is somewhat mottled while the band on females will be much thinner than that on adult females.
This bird's breeding habitat is near inland bodies of waters or coasts across most of Canada, Alaska and the United States. They migrate from the northern parts of its range to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the West Indies and northern South America in winter. During migration it may stray far from land; the species is recorded as an accidental visitor on oceanic islands such as Clarion[5], and has occurred as an extremely rare vagrant in Iceland, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
in warmer areas it is a permanent resident. It leaves the northern parts of its range when the water freezes. A few individuals may linger in the north even in the coldest winters (except in the Arctic), if there are remaining open bodies of water.
The Belted Kingfisher is often seen perched prominently on trees, posts, or other suitable \"watchpoints\" close to water before plunging in head first after its fish prey. They also eat amphibians, small crustaceans, insects, small mammals and reptiles.
This bird nests in a horizontal tunnel made in a river bank or sand bank and excavated by both parents. The female lays five to eight eggs and both adults incubate the eggs and feed the young.
The nest of the belted kingfisher is a long tunnel and often slopes uphill. One possible reason for the uphill slope is in the case of flooding the chicks will be able to survive in the air pocket formed by the elevated end of the tunnel. Source: Wikipedia.org .
Shore Road, Grand Desert, Nova Scotia. 20 September 2008")
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) Male
The American Goldfinch is also known as the Eastern Goldfinch and Wild Canary. It is a North American bird in the finch family. It is migratory - ranging from southern Canada to North Carolina during the breeding season and from just south of the Canadian border to Mexico during the winter.
The American Goldfinch displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration. It is the only finch in its subfamily which undergoes a complete molt. The male is a vibrant yellow in the summer and an olive color during the winter months. The female is a dull yellow-brown shade which brightens only slightly during the summer. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate.
The American Goldfinch is a granivore and adapted for the consumption of seedheads, with a conical beak to remove the seeds and agile feet to grip the stems of seedheads while feeding. It is a social bird and will gather in large flocks while feeding and migrating. Both sexes may behave territorially during nest construction, but this aggression is short-lived. Its breeding season is tied to the peak of food supply (beginning in late July), which is relatively late in the year for a finch. This species is generally monogamous and produces one brood each year.
Human activity has generally benefited the American Goldfinch. It is often found in residential areas attracted to bird feeders installed by humans which increases its survival rate in these areas. Deforestation by humans also creates open meadow areas which are the preferred habitat of the American Goldfinch. More information available at: Wikipedia.org
Halifax, Nova Scotia. 25 July 2008.
The American Goldfinch is also known as the Eastern Goldfinch and Wild Canary. It is a North American bird in the finch family. It is migratory - ranging from southern Canada to North Carolina during the breeding season and from just south of the Canadian border to Mexico during the winter.
The American Goldfinch displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration. It is the only finch in its subfamily which undergoes a complete molt. The male is a vibrant yellow in the summer and an olive color during the winter months. The female is a dull yellow-brown shade which brightens only slightly during the summer. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate.
The American Goldfinch is a granivore and adapted for the consumption of seedheads, with a conical beak to remove the seeds and agile feet to grip the stems of seedheads while feeding. It is a social bird and will gather in large flocks while feeding and migrating. Both sexes may behave territorially during nest construction, but this aggression is short-lived. Its breeding season is tied to the peak of food supply (beginning in late July), which is relatively late in the year for a finch. This species is generally monogamous and produces one brood each year.
Human activity has generally benefited the American Goldfinch. It is often found in residential areas attracted to bird feeders installed by humans which increases its survival rate in these areas. Deforestation by humans also creates open meadow areas which are the preferred habitat of the American Goldfinch. More information available at: Wikipedia.org
Halifax, Nova Scotia. 25 July 2008.
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) Male
The American Goldfinch is also known as the Eastern Goldfinch and Wild Canary. It is a North American bird in the finch family. It is migratory - ranging from southern Canada to North Carolina during the breeding season and from just south of the Canadian border to Mexico during the winter.
The American Goldfinch displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration. It is the only finch in its subfamily which undergoes a complete molt. The male is a vibrant yellow in the summer and an olive color during the winter months. The female is a dull yellow-brown shade which brightens only slightly during the summer. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate.
The American Goldfinch is a granivore and adapted for the consumption of seedheads, with a conical beak to remove the seeds and agile feet to grip the stems of seedheads while feeding. It is a social bird and will gather in large flocks while feeding and migrating. Both sexes may behave territorially during nest construction, but this aggression is short-lived. Its breeding season is tied to the peak of food supply (beginning in late July), which is relatively late in the year for a finch. This species is generally monogamous and produces one brood each year.
Human activity has generally benefited the American Goldfinch. It is often found in residential areas attracted to bird feeders installed by humans which increases its survival rate in these areas. Deforestation by humans also creates open meadow areas which are the preferred habitat of the American Goldfinch. More information available at: Wikipedia.org
Halifax, Nova Scotia. 25 July 2008.
The American Goldfinch is also known as the Eastern Goldfinch and Wild Canary. It is a North American bird in the finch family. It is migratory - ranging from southern Canada to North Carolina during the breeding season and from just south of the Canadian border to Mexico during the winter.
The American Goldfinch displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration. It is the only finch in its subfamily which undergoes a complete molt. The male is a vibrant yellow in the summer and an olive color during the winter months. The female is a dull yellow-brown shade which brightens only slightly during the summer. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate.
The American Goldfinch is a granivore and adapted for the consumption of seedheads, with a conical beak to remove the seeds and agile feet to grip the stems of seedheads while feeding. It is a social bird and will gather in large flocks while feeding and migrating. Both sexes may behave territorially during nest construction, but this aggression is short-lived. Its breeding season is tied to the peak of food supply (beginning in late July), which is relatively late in the year for a finch. This species is generally monogamous and produces one brood each year.
Human activity has generally benefited the American Goldfinch. It is often found in residential areas attracted to bird feeders installed by humans which increases its survival rate in these areas. Deforestation by humans also creates open meadow areas which are the preferred habitat of the American Goldfinch. More information available at: Wikipedia.org
Halifax, Nova Scotia. 25 July 2008.
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