The majestic and poised Bald Eagle is an enduring symbol of freedom as the national bird of the United States since 1782. Known for their stark white heads, white fan-shaped tails, and brown plumage, these birds have a massive 6–8 foot wingspan and an imposing figure. The sexes are alike in color, but females are larger. Young Bald Eagles look more akin to brown hawks until they are five years old, when they develop their classic white and brown appearance.
Bald Eagles are the most common eagle in the Northeast, and have a long-term residence in Nutley between Chestnut Street and Grant Avenue. Nest number 598 has seen several juvenile eaglets leave the nest, while the parents remain connected to the nest.
With piercing gazes, they often watch nearby Nutley children playing when not hunting for fish in the Passaic River to bring back to their nests. Their songs are high pitched chirping whistles, and media depictions of Bald Eagle calls are instead Red-tailed Hawks.
While previously an endangered species due to pesticides affecting their calcium levels and thinning egg shells, Bald Eagles have recovered thanks to a breeding program in the 1970s. They are no longer on the endangered species list, with breeding populations all over New Jersey.
They make massive stick nests high up on the tallest trees that they can repair and re-use for years. As long as their partners are living, Bald Eagles mate for life. In courtship, they lock talons and perform a “death spiral” — a high-altitude cartwheel to determine physical fitness. Bald Eagles are threatened by severe weather and habitat loss if their nest trees topple. They also have impressively long lives, where the oldest confirmed wild Bald Eagle lived until age 38.
To visit Bald Eagles, the non-profit wild bird sanctuary The Raptor Trust in Millington, NJ offers families the opportunity to get a closer look. Their ambassador Bald Eagles are permanent residents, as they are unable to safely return to the wild. The Raptor Trust will accept sick and injured birds for rehabilitation and release, so they are a great resource for Nutley residents to turn to if they find a wild bird that needs help.
For more news coverage about the local Bald Eagle family, Nutley Nature News digs deeper in this exclusive interview with a long-time resident, and recent neighbor, to the nearby eagles.
Species name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Sources: Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, The Raptor Trust, National Geographic, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, Nutley Nature News
Photo credit: Timothy Abraham on Unsplash