288 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



tail which readily identify it. Immature birds, hick these distinguishing 

 marks and are readily confused with the Golden Eagle. They may be 

 known always, however, by the partly bare shank or tarsus, coupled of 

 course with the large size the spread of wing being from six to seven feet, 

 averaging a little less than that of the Golden Eagle. 



Distribution.— "United States to Southern Lower California and north- 

 ern jMexico, breeding in suitable locations throughout its range" (A. O. U. 

 Check List, 1910).* 



The Bald Eagle is generally distributed over the state, but is most com- 

 monly seen near the shores of the Great Lakes, or along the larger rivers, 

 and is nowhere abundant. Its food consists very largely of fish and it 

 seldom or never nests at any great distance from some region where this 

 food can be obtained in abundance. It seems to be resident, or practically 

 so, wdierever found and if it absents itself at all it is only for a short time 

 during the coldest weather when the waters on which it depends so largely 

 for its food are tightly frozen. 



It was formerly much more abundant, and probably a few pairs nested 

 in every county in the state, but the birds are followed relentlessly by 

 hunters who shoot them for specimens or for mere sport, and the nests 

 have been robbed year after year by egg collectors, so that one by one 

 the nests have been deserted and the birds have withdrawn to places of 

 greater security. It is much to be regretted that this wanton destruction 

 has been permitted, and it is a matter of congratulation that by an act 

 of the legislature of 1905, renewed at each subsequent session, these noble 

 birds are protected together with other non-game birds, and their destruc- 

 tion or the disturbance of their nests at any time of year becomes an offense 

 punishable by fine and imprisonment. 



Although this is one of the largest of our birds of prey, and has been chosen 

 as the emblem of the Republic, it is nevertheless a robber of a rather dis- 

 graceful type, and although it frequently captures worthy prey, in open 

 fight or by direct attack, it often robs the Fish Hawk, compelling it to 

 relinquish the fish which it has just captured. When nothing better oflfers 

 it feeds freely upon decomposing fish washed up along the shore, or upon 

 carrion, in company with the Crow and Raven. True, it kills many rabbits, 

 grouse, ducks and water fowl of various kinds, and even stoops to squirrels, 

 mice and snakes; but on the whole it confers no decided benefits on the 

 agriculturist, although on the other hand, it is not commonly injurious. 

 On rare occasions it picks up a hen, usually at a distance from the house, 

 and in early spring it has been known to destroj^ young lambs, but these 

 are not common offenses. 



The nest is very bulky and conspicuous, placed high up in a large tree 

 (often a dead one), and often so situated as to command a wide view of the 

 surrounding country. It is occupied year after year by the same pair of 

 eagles and is only slightly repaired each spring before the laying of eggs. 

 This takes place quite early in the season, in December or January in 

 Florida, and from February to March in the middle states. It is likely that 

 the exact time of egg laying varies with different pairs and in different 

 seasons, but in Michigan the eggs probably are laid in the latter part of 

 March or the first of April. But a single brood is reared in a season and 

 the period of incubation is about thirty days. The eggs are commonly 

 two. very rarely three; pure white in color (unless nest-stained), and average 

 3 by 2.30 inches 



* For notes on the Northern Bald Eagle, see Appendix. 



