Haliaeetus leucocephalus or better known as the Bald Eagle

We had the most awesome sighting of an adult bald eagle and a juvenile bald eagle this past Saturday!  We had family friends up for the weekend and decided to take a slow boat cruise around the lake.  We were showing them a beautiful log home located just a few bays from our cabin, when I spotted two bald eagles high up in a tree.  You can easily see the mature eagle which was perched on the highest limb in the tree.  The juvenile eagle is more difficult to see.  He or she is located on the lowest limb seen and is in front of the main trunk of the tree.  

Some fun facts about the bald eagle is that they were taken off the endangered list in 2007 and are now listed as a threatened bird species.  There are now an estimated 9789 breeding pairs of bald eagles.  And did you know that the eagle believes in fidelity?  That's right!  They stay with a mate for life.  Not only that but they share in the 35 day incubation time for the 1-3 eggs to hatch.  They also share in the rearing of the young eagle which stays with their parents until maturity is reached.  I think human beings could take a few lessons away from the eagle, huh?

The eagle became our national emblem in 1782.  It can fly as high as 10,000 feet in the air and up to 35 miles per hour.  They live to be as old as 30 and are considered at the top of our food chain.  Their wing span is 72" to 90" inches as full grown and they have approximately 7000 feathers.  They are incredibly light weight due to their hollow bones.  The juvenile eagle will get their white head and white tail at the age of four or five.  Until then, they remain brown and white.  

I've always loved to watch eagles fly and hear their cackle cry to one another.  What a wonderful feeling they must have to be able to soar so majestically over the lake that we love so much and see everything from the high perch of a tall pine or the air.  

The only glimpse of that world I've had is when we've taken a float plane ride over the lake.   That's a wonderful experience to have if you ever get a chance.  Flying services around Lake Vermilion (Van Air, Inc. is our favorite!) will pick you up at your boat dock and fly you to different destinations for dinner or just fly you around the Vermilion area.  My husband, I and our kids went last year for a dinner flight to Nelson's Resort on Crane Lake for our anniversary.  We not only had a wonderful time in the plane seeing all the beautiful sights of the area, but the kids both got to fly the plane and we had a wonderful dinner also!  It's worth every penny to experience it, if only just once in a lifetime.  It makes a wonderful anniversary or birthday present!  Hint to all the husbands!  There's a lot of brownie points in this gift! HA!