American Bald Eagles - Pictures

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American Bald Eagles - Mortality

Though protected, American Bald eagles die nowadays of several causes:
Shot by recreational hunters or for their feathers and talons;
Electrocution from landing on power poles and bridging two wires with the wings;
Lead poisoning from eating wounded game. Three pellets can kill an eagle;
Eating poisoned carrion for wolves and coyotes;
Collisions with vehicles;
Starvation, especially during their first winter, due to lack of hunting skills;
Exposure from misjudging altitude or snagging a fish and getting stuck in the water.

American Bald Eagles - Food

The American bald eagle is an opportunistic hunter, taking what is easiest to hunt. Eagles don't need to eat every day; they can store food in their esophagus. Fish are the primary source of food for Bald eagles. They skim along the surface of lakes and rivers and suddenly snatch a fish, which should be alive to attract the bird's attention. The usual prey is northern pike, muskellunge and bullhead. Eagles hunt in both salt and fresh water. Bald eagles can swim under the water using the wings. In winter eagles feed on waterfowls, hunt uplands for birds and small mammals (foxes, deer), or scavenge. In severe conditions Bald eagles migrate south. American Bald eagles often pirate food from each other and from the osprey, a more skillful catcher of fish.

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