Mature Bald Eagle ___ _SZN4006-Enhanced-NR-1 copy

            Bald Eagles | Mature vs Juvenile 

It takes 5.5 years for bald eagles to fully mature to their iconic definitive plumage; dark brown body with white head and tail feathers. Depending on food availability and competition for mates, Bald Eagles typically reach breeding maturity at 4-5 years of age. Also shown in this series is a juvenile, with the lighter brown and distinctly mottled plumage typical to a 1.5-year-old Bald Eagle. The latter not noticeably smaller that an adult bird. By the way, instead of an immature Bald, I erroneously initially thought I was looking at a much rarer and endangered Golden Eagle, the later I have seen only once in the distance.    
Although bald eagles can live 30 to 50 years under human care, a lifespan of 15-20 years is more typical in the wild. Eaglets’ mortality rate is estimated at 30% to 50% in the first year. Conversely, the survival rate increases significantly, estimated to be above 80%, after the first year.
It takes considerable time and good fortune for Bald Eagles to attain full maturity, a feat of survival that brings my admiration whenever I am given the opportunity to observe this raptor in its iconic adult plumage.    
At this time, not much can be done to protect Bald Eagles from consuming food that may transmit bird flu. Chronic and acute lead poisoning in Bald Eagles, other birds of prey and flesh-eating mammals is another, often underappreciated threat to wildlife food chain posed by sport hunters still using lead ammunition and leaving carcases or remains in the wild for predators and scavengers to consume. It is estimated that over 5,000 tonnes of lead ammunition is pumped into the Canadian ecosystems on an annual basis with less then 200 tonnes (4%) recovered and recycled. The majority of lead ammunition used in Canada is discharged on shooting ranges while hunting waterfowl with lead ammunition is prohibited. Nonetheless, other hunting activities release between 40 and 80 tonnes of toxic lead into the Canadian environment annually, posing risks to both wildlife and the food chain leading to us, humans. Although bird flu is regularly mentioned as a concern affecting the wellbeing of wildlife, little is said about human activities causing harm to wildlife such as lead ammunition, a problem that could be more easily remedied by adopting lead-free alternatives across the board. Just Food for Thought. Region of Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

   

Taken on: January 22, 2025

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