12 TH EB AyUlDU BiOIN, (BU LC eel 
practically disappear when seen against a background of white clouds. The 
osprey, sometimes mistakenly reported as the bald eagle, and nearly as 
large, should be readily recognized by its all light under parts and the 
dark bars across the tail. 
Measuring from 30 to 40 inches in length and with a wing spread of 
from 72 to 90 inches, the male eagle is some three to five inches shorter 
than the female. Immature birds are often larger than the adults. When 
seen flying the wing stroke, though unhurried and rather labored, gives 
one. the impression of great power, and the eagle is capable of considerable 
speed when it so desires. Instances are known where it has overtaken and 
struck down the swan, Canada goose, brant and pintail. When seen soaring 
on nearly motionless wings and at great heights it is a magnificent appear- 
ing bird and an inspiration to all observers. 
Formerly the bald eagle was common over practically all of North 
America, but now it is rare in much of the country. On the Florida coast 
it is fairly common, and may be called abundant on parts of the north- 
west coast. In the Bulletin’s Christmas census for 1941 nine were reported 
from southern Illinois, while the same territory in 1942 gave seventeen. 
It generally avoids the vicinity of human habitation, but where it is not 
molested will sometimes nest quite near to travelled roads. I know of one 
nest that has been continuously occupied for several years which is not 
more than a hundred yards from a paved city street, and another somewhat 
farther from a heavily travelled highway. Both old birds were present 
when we approached one of these nests, but one of them left very soon 
afterward. When they began to stretch their wings and move around we 
discovered there were two about half-grown young in the nest. Some two 
hours passed before the parent bird that had been hunting returned with 
a fish which was immediately torn into strips and fed to the young birds. 
A few minutes later one of the parents again flew away, and when we 
left after having watched for over three hours, had not yet returned. At 
no time was the nest left unwatched by both birds. 
The nest is a flat-topped platform composed chiefly of sticks, but which 
may contain almost any available material, coarsely put together and lined 
with grass and roots. A nest in Florida has been described as being 15 
feet in height and 8 feet across. In it are deposited two, rarely three, 
eggs about the size of goose eggs. The period of incubation has been 
variously reported as from 28 to 42 days, and the nesting time varies 
with the location from November or December in Florida to late April 
along our northern borders. One brood only is hatched each year. The 
young are a dark brown and do not fully acquire the white markings 
until the third or fourth year. One authority states that the eyes of the 
newly hatched young are light bluish, changing by degrees as the plumage 
appears to a dark hazel brown, and, when fully matured, to a bright straw 
color. Bald eagles mate for life and apparently are very fond of each 
other. 
There are many stories of how the bald eagle robs the osprey, a 
more efficient fisher than itself, of its catch. That they do hunt for them- 
selves is shown by the stories of two writers who tell of watching them 
