Research Paper

Protect the Bald Eagle

Do you know that United States was endangered before? The bald eagle is the nation’s symbol of the United States of America, was endangered in the past. “the bald eagle, which has been the nation’s symbol for 225 years but was on the brink of extinction more than four decades ago, is expected to be removed from the federal Endangered Species list this week” (Donnelly, 2007, para. 1). The bald eagle is a bird of prey. This bird is unique because of his thickness, strength and speed and his overall lightness of touch and intelligence. “Bald Eagles live near large bodies of open water such as lakes, marshes, seacoasts and rivers, where there are plenty of fish to eat and tall trees for nesting and roosting” (American Eagle Foundation, n.d, para 4). The bald eagle feeds on fish. Bald eagles proliferate in the beginning of the spring. With low temperature and the beginning of winter the bald eagle starts migration to the warm places. “The female lays 1 to 3 eggs annually in the springtime, which hatch after about 35 days of incubation. Hunting, egg incubation, nest watch, eaglet feeding and eaglet brooding duties are shared by both parents until the young are strong enough to fly at about 12 weeks of age. Eaglets are full size at 12 weeks of age” (American Eagle Foundation, n.d, para 6). This bird now is not extinct, but we should protect him more because he is near the extinction line. Americans have done a good job to bring this bird from extinction to wildlife. The American Bird Conservancy was quoted as saying, “The conservation of the bald eagle is a true success story and reflection of the concern Americans have for the environment” (Mueller, 2007, para. 2). The bald eagle is just only one species from many species that need to be protected from extinction. So, what helped with the bald eagle could help the other big birds that are endangered, such as falcons. Today the bald eagle lives in the wildlife without concern of extinction.

There are many ways to protect the bald eagle and the other big birds that are endangered; for example, remove all DDT, improve habitat, and generate public concern about these birds.

First, DDT has started to affect birds, especially the bald eagle, since the 1950’s. People began to use DDT more often. “Only 43 years ago just a little more than 400 eagle pairs remained in the lower 48 states” (Mueller, 2007, para. 3). The birds became extremely affected by DDT through the waterways. When the population used DDT to clear certain areas of bugs, the remaining water washed into the world’s water supply, which had a considerable effect on most wildlife. The bald eagle, being at the top of the food chain, has effectively survived on wildlife from the sea and so forth. Their advanced techniques of killing their prey had greatly affected them the most. “The pesticide washed into the waterways and entered the bodies of fish, and whenever an eagle ingested such a fish, it would weaken the composition of the bird’s egg shells” (Mueller, 2007, para. 3). Although DDT helps with the world’s food supply, there must be an alternative way of doing so. The removal of DDT as pesticide will enhance the lives of wildlife, therefore eliminating the scare of extinction among the bald eagle species. For example, the pesticides that are used not only greatly affect the physiology of a bald eagle; they also affect the unborn of this species as well. Only recently has the world realized that DDT needed to be removed from farming. “Congress banned most uses of DDT in 1972, and the eagle population began a slow recovery” (Mueller, 2007, para. 4). The use of DDT has become such a threat to the bald eagle that it was officially on the list of endangered species. The world has been more sympathetic towards the bald eagle and banned most DDT; however, that does not eliminate the entirety of the use and there is still the possibility of contaminating any type of wildlife. “In 1995, it was removed from the endangered category and placed on the less serious threatened list” (Mueller, 2007, para. 5). DDT was banned in the United States a long time ago and that helps the bald eagle. So the same decision can fit in other countries and help not only the endangered species and the other species. DDT is not only the choice that farmers have; we have many choices. With new technology we can produce new chemicals that help the farmers and do not hurt the environment. As we know there are many countries that still use DDT, but if we produce a new substance that works like DDT and is cheap, they will start to band DDT. We can try to explain to these countries who still use DDT the seriousness of using DDT and how that affect the wildlife and give them other choices they can use. In conclusion, DDT should be banned from any use in the world, because although eliminating most of its use will help the bald eagle, if it is not entirely depleted, then part of the species will be exterminated.

Although the bald eagle along with other birds, is highly monitored, there are still precautions and actions that people need to take to preserve their life and their habitat to ensure their enriched lives on our planet. One aspect that people have considered is having preservations that are dedicated to making sure birds in this type of situation are revived to the level that they once were at. “The bald eagle represents one of the greatest endangered species recovery stories in US history” (Clayton, 2007, para. 4). The world has been trying its hardest to conserve this species; however, more action needs to be taken upon this situation that has been lingering for the past century. The laws that have been put into effect have greatly reduced the hazard to the species. The order to receive the nutrients they need to survive. People are not able to retain the census of birds still surviving because we “relied solely on eyewitness observations” (Dyer, 2008, para. 6). The bald eagles we know to exist are the ones that we keep in preservations. People and wildlife supporting foundations need to enhance the natural habitats of these birds in order to release them from these artificial preservations that were made for them. These artificial preservations should only act as a temporary solution to help the birds gain strength and skills to survive in the wild. If we keep them only in zoo- like areas they will become domesticated and not know how to live on their own. We should protect the wilderness and not allow to any interference in their environment like cutting trees. We try to create an environment like the environment they use to living in. Foundations should support and renovate natural areas to ensure an enriching long-lasting survival for years to come. Not alone should people preserve habitats but we need to make a collective effort that “prohibits ‘disturbing’ the eagle” (Claytlon, 2007, para. 9). In conclusion, all efforts need to be made to support natural wildlife habitats instead of other issues. Like all wildlife, they all play a role in ensuring a healthy planet for all species, human or animals, to flourish thoroughly.

Next, contrary to what most people believe about saving the environment of the bald eagle, there are still some people that exist in the world that believe that using DDT will help humans more and it is worth the cost of so many birds’ lives. DDT is a pesticide used by many farmers and has been proven effective in the harvesting of certain food. Many people would argue that there are no harmful side effects of the use of DDT, and it is imperative that we keep using it to ensure ripe food. Some farmers would prefer to use DDT over any other pesticide because it alleviates any worry about losing profits since it is proven effective in killing pests. With the use of DDT by farmers, it helps the farmer to not lose any type of crop and keeps the work effort to a minimum. On the other hand, farmers can have other choices that can help them instead of using DDT. DDT is harmful for wildlife and causes many problems. So, we can make new chemicals do not hurt the environment. With the new technology we can produce new substances that can work like DDT and do not hurt the wildlife. DDT does not hurt only the birds, but also causes genetic problems, so the new species get hurt from this substance. If we produce another substance that is cheap and that can work like DDT farmers will not use DDT anymore. DDT is a bad substance, and we should prohibit this substance in all countries to preserve the wildlife.

People are also against helping preserve habitats and putting effort into making new environments for animals. It is assumed they would the world take nature’s course and we should not interfere with the process. People seem to believe that wildlife does not need any help with reviving itself. The natural weathering of the environment will ensure the world’s survival of the fittest; only the birds that are able to survive can do so. If we need to help animals survive, that will be all they are capable of knowing. If bald eagles need the help of humans, they will not be able to understand life without any type of help. People who believe in Darwinism would not want to play the role of God, and would not want to interfere with the process of natural selection; they would rather let nature run its course. Ultimately, people would rather not be concerned with the life of animals and focus more on the issues of its population of people. People seem to believe that there need to be a concern more with the people of this planet, rather than the other animal life that attempts to survive on it as well. What people argue there is wrong because of many reasons. First, people already interfere in the nature by producing pollutants and burning fuel. Human activities hurt the environment in many ways. For example the hole in the ozone was caused by substance called “CFC” that attacked the O3 and broke it down to O2 and O. Overpopulation also affect the environment by humans’ taking more places that was before for animals. Moreover, mining and cutting timber causes animals to lose habitats. Climate change causes animals and birds to lose habitats. Some animals start to move northward because climate change affects their habitats (Hall, 2007). So, we should stop the human activities that affect the wildlife. We made problems and we should resolve them. Nature cannot by its own process solve all the problems that we cause. Humans should work together to serve our planet.

People need to make an effort to let the issue be known that some birds need help to survive. There should be more advertisement toward helping this cause. If people do not make any action towards this issue, other animals on the food chain will be affected, therefore causing a rupture on life on this planet. People need to be advised and put forth a community effort to help out the birds that are in need, whether it would be helping a wildlife foundation, or not vandalizing the natural environment. There are small efforts that one can take to help. One should be conscious of one’s carbon foot print and watch the items one buys. People should invest in the consumption of organic items that limit the amount of toxins put into the environment that could possibly affect any species whether they are endangered or not. By doing small actions such as this, they would be ensuring a life that would be lasting to an endangered species.

Together with self consciousness, public awareness, and overall avoidance of animal-harming pesticides we stand a chance of overcoming these pressing problems. Endangered animals and birds are a vital addition to the overall eco-system and it is up to our behaviors to protect their existence. Public concern is the initial step that must be taken to act as a catalyst for long lasting change and improvement to these species’ withering habitats.



References:

American Eagle Foundation (n.d.). Bald eagle: the U.S.A.’s national symbol. Retrieved
November 30, 2008, from http://www.eagles.org/moreabout.html.

Clayton, M. (2007, June 28). Bald eagle is set to lose ‘threatened’ tag. Christian Science
Monitor. Retrieved October 30, 2008, from LexisNexis.

Donnelly, J. (2007, June 26). Bald eagles set to hit milestone: US likely to end endangered status
of nation’s symbol. The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 3, 2008, from LexisNexis.

Dyer, J. (2008, Jan 20). Here’s a treat for bird-watchers: eagles. The Boston Globe. Retrieved
October 30, 2008, from LexisNexis.

Hall, B. (2007, Dec 30). The binocular brigade. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30,
2008, from LexisNexis.

Mueller, G. (2007, July 4). Nation’s symbol at risk no more. Washington Times. Retrieved
November 3, 2008, from LexisNexis.