Tortuga Tex and the Bald Eagle - Text VersionHowdy! Did you know there are bald eagles in Texas ? I’ve traveled to Lake Palestine in east Texas to look for them. Many bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) spend winters and nest in Texas . In January of 2000, 212 bald eagles were counted at Lake Palestine! Female eagles can weigh up to 14 pounds and have a wingspan of 8 feet. Males are smaller. Bald eagles don’t get their white feathers until they are 4 or 5 years old. Nests can be up to 10 feet wide and weigh as much as a small car! Bald eagles lay 2 to 3 eggs, a little bigger than a chicken egg. They eat dead animals, waterfowl, rabbits, squirrels, mice, snakes and lots of fish. Bald eagles used to be endangered mostly because of pollution and habitat loss. With man’s help, however, bald eagle numbers have increased and they are no longer endangered! Aquatic habitats like those at Lake Palestine attract many species of birds to our state. We will be visiting other wetland birds during future trips. Until then, this is Tortuga Tex wishing you happy nature watching! [top] |