Eagles and Courting

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) officially landed in the Endangered Species category in 1967 and conservation recovery efforts now have them soaring in our semi-wilderness playground. We spent our July Fourth late afternoon in the boat, floating along the far shoreline, watching for nesting pairs. We found four juvenile eagles and saw two adult pairs.

These eaglets have not yet developed the coloring of their parents. Just learning to fly, land on perches and beginning to hunt for food. They will reach maturity and start looking for a mate at age four or five.


Romantically speaking - eagles mate for life. The one that is left after one in the pair bond dies will accept a new mate. An eagle's lifespan in the wild is about 30 years, so, lots of time for many children and grandchildren.


A whirlwind romance perhaps, an eagle will perform for a potential mate by flying and swooping and  cartwheeling. Skydiving anyone? The male and female will soar high in the air, lock talons and go into freefall together, pulling up at the last minute to soar again into the air. Humans don't fall in love quite  the same way, but activities that release neurotransmitters (those chemicals that send messages throughout the body) do help with bonding. Consider the thrill of seeing eagles soaring together, the romance of a tandem skydive, or climbing a rock-face. The limit is the imagination and sense of self-preservation.  


Not into extreme sports try: holding hands, going to a movie, window-shopping together just for fun, going out for a special meal, moderate exercises like running or skating, and taking bubble baths.

The Bald Eagle was removed from the federal listing in 2007. Efforts continue to preserve their habitat and nesting areas. 

Watching eagles soar, spending time together and learning from other species - ROMANTIC.