We love wildlife and we look forward to any excuse to celebrate a day inspired by one. So welcome to January and the National Save the Eagles Day! Not to be confused with a similar day back in June, “National American Eagle Day”.
For those of us in the U.S., you likely thought of the Bald Eagle or Golden Eagle when we mentioned the focus of today. But did you know that there are 58 more species of eagles around the world that are celebrated today?
Eagles are large birds of prey that are members of the bird family Accipitridae and belong to several genera that are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in Central and South America, and three in Australia. If you’re interested in learning more about all of these species, check out Birdlife.
For many of us, we remember a time when the bald eagle was one of many animals on the endangered species list. It’s estimated that in the 1940’s there were only about 500 breeding pairs left on the planet. Thankfully, with hard work and perseverance of volunteers, and a little help from government regulation (to restrict the pesticide DDT which caused the birds to lay eggs with weak shells that would crack before the chick inside could survive) the bald eagle species was removed from the endangered species list back in 2007. They’re not out of the woods just yet though and there are countless volunteers still focused on helping these animals to once again thrive.
If you’re like us, there’s nothing like watching wildlife in action. Eagles.org has links to some of the most popular aagle cams around the country, along with other excellent resources.
While the eagle population in the U.S. has come back from the brink of extinction, eagles are still most affected by human population sprawl. Eagles often get tangled in fishing line while trying to hunt. Unfortunately, some still try and hunt these birds for trophies. National Save the Eagles Day on Jan. 10 is a reminder that we can all do our part, no matter how small, to protect the eagles for future generations.
The easiest first step could be a small donation to a group like ours that supports and enhances wildlife habitat for species just like Bald Eagles, at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, and beyond.
When Amazon removed AmazonSmile, we lost our Amazon Wishlist access. Now, we have finally started one back up! Shop for items that the Friends and the Refuge Complex need to help with everything from habitat restoration to events like BirdFest & Bluegrass, and help support wildlife in little and big ways.
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Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (PK822). For more information, please visit the link below.
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