Photo by Eric Bégin
Our organization was created to help the Bluebirds increase their numbers. As the state bird of New York, we aim to provide them with nesting boxes for a better chance, but they are not the only bird we should think about. The American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is our national bird and is the only eagle unique to North America. In 2007, the Department of Interior took the American bald eagle off the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened, and today is National American Eagle Day.
These birds are found throughout most of North America, and the northwest coast is the most common home for Bald Eagles; but don’t think you won’t see them in New York. Many sightings have been made since we are located near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
Our volunteers are trained to keep an eye out for various bird species in our area, and though we probably won’t see these majestic raptors if the fields or bike paths, we may be lucky to see one out on the lake or in large trees lining the shore. We are currently in the height of nesting season, so you may be lucky to see eaglets as well.
We hope you will celebrate today in honor of our feathered friend. Take some time to watch the skies, read up on Bald Eagle facts at All About Birds, or even post something on our Facebook page. You can also share this news with one of the links at the bottom of this post. If you like the the photo of the Bald Eagle by Eric Bégin, be sure to check out his photostream on Flicker for others, including one of our beloved Bluebird.