The bald eagle was designated as the national bird of the United States in 1782 and is actually a member of the sea eagles group.

The bald eagle rules as the second largest bird of prey in North America, after the California condor. Although we did not actually measure, the gigantic birds we saw seemed to be three feet tall with a wing span of about ten feet.

The name "bald" does not imply a lack of feathers but is derived from the word "piebald" meaning marked or spotted in white. Young birds lack the white head and tail of the adults which can take up to four or five years to obtain.

While travelling by Zodiac along the shoreline, we could spot bald eagles gazing down at us from the tops of the trees. They carefully observed us as they perched waiting to swoop down to snatch their dinners from the waters below.

These eagles construct huge nests built of sticks and twigs in trees. As the same nest is used year after year, it can become as large as 6 feet wide and 5 feet high. They usually lay one or two eggs and occassionally three.

Years ago, on our very first trip to Alaska we were in Glacier Bay setting up our main camp. Still in awe over being in the middle of this magnificent wildness, I heard strange "gobbling" sounds in the distance. Not knowing any better, I excitedly turned to my partner and said, "I didn't know there were turkeys in Alaska!" Brent , a much more experienced wildlife observer turned to me and said "Bob, you're hearing one of the many sounds of the bald eagle!" To this day, he's never let me live that down.

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