Once endangered, the bald eagle has made a dramatic comeback over the past few decades and is now fairly common along the larger lakes and rivers of North America, especially during the colder months. But having survived illegal hunting and environmental poisons, our National Bird is now the victim of character assassi-nation, often labeled a scavenger that is unworthy to be the symbol of the mighty U.S. of A.
And, indeed, the majestic bald eagle is a scavenger. Though we are all impressed by its soaring flight and admire its ability to snatch a fish from the surface of a lake, we also know that bald eagles gather along rivers to feast on dead or dying salmon, follow flocks of waterfowl to take advantage of sick or injured birds and feed on the carcass of a moose or elk that has succumbed to the winter snows.
We humans are enamored with symbolism, impressed by speed, power and beauty. But nature values survival, nothing more. And bald eagles are survivors!
