Heliaeetus Leucocephalus
by Norman Johnson
Title
Heliaeetus Leucocephalus
Artist
Norman Johnson
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This bald eagle was on a power pole in Hernando County, Florida just before it took flight.
The bald eagle (heliaeetus leucocephalus) is often pictured as a symbol of strength. It is the nation bird and animal of the United States appearing on coins and stamps as well as many other pleces.
The bald eagle is a sea eagle and can be found near any large body of water fresh or salt with an abundant food supply and tall, old growth trees for nesting. Their range extends from Alaska and Canada, down through the United States to northern Mexico. Most eagles are residents within their range while the ones in the far northern extent of their range only move far enough during winter to find open water in which to fish. The birds farther north in the range are proportionally larger than their cousins to the south by up to twentyfive percent.
As a sea eagle, their diet consists mainly of fish but they will feed on many other animals, notably smaller water birds. The bald eagle is verified as having carried the heaviest load by any bird when one was observed carrying a fifteen pound mule deer fawn.
It has the largest nest for any North American bird and the largest tree nest for any animal species, measuring up to 8.2' wide, 13' deep and weighing a metric ton. The largest nest ever recorded was one found in Florida in 1963 that measured 10' wide and 20" deep. Most Florida eagle nests found in a natural setting, will be found in pine trees. With the advent of cell towers, eagles have taken a liking to them for nest sites as well.
Uploaded
November 17th, 2017
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Comments (34)
William Tasker
Great catch and a beautiful shot, Norman! Your beautiful image has been featured by Wild Birds Of The World, a nature photography group. L/F
Norman Johnson replied:
I'm glad you like it William. Thank you very much for the feature in the group "Wild Birds Of The World."
Norman Johnson
I'm glad you like it Don. Thank you very much for the feature in the group "A Birding Group - Wings."
Don Columbus
Congratulations Norman, your work is Featured in "A Birding Group - Wings"! I invite you to place it in the group's "2017 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet
Norman Johnson
I'm glad you like it John. Thank you very much for the feature in the group "Images That Excite You."
Robyn King
Congratulations your beautiful work is being featured in The World We See Group :-)
Norman Johnson replied:
I'm glad you like it Robyn. Thank you very much for the feature in the group "The World We See."
Norman Johnson
I'm glad you like it Scott. Thank you very much for the feature in the group "FAA Portraits - Birds."