A Port Deposit Eagle -Photo George Williams
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     In 1782, the bald eagle was chosen the United States' national symbol. At that time, it is was estimated that around 25,000 eagles lived in what is now the continental United States. Today there around 4,000 breeding pairs. The Lower Susquehanna Valley now has close to 23 documented birds living and nesting in our area.

"Watch out for falling fish"

As Reported to Us
From a new resident in town looking out his back window. It is not uncommon to see eagles soaring over the Susquehanna River from Port Deposit, the bounty of fish in the river is an ample and easy food supply for these powerful birds.  Often these eagle will  soar a hundred to a hundred and fifty feet over head and then make a dive underwater for seconds at a time, only to rise with a large fish. We promise to provide photos of this in future updates.

Another Eagle Story
One local resident noted however that one day while cleaning his back yard he heard a loud slapping sound and constant small slaps in the area of Main Street. Only to see a rather large fish in the middle of the road still a struggling as it lay there. As he looked around he noticed high up in a tree standing watch was a brown topped young eagle who must have lost his grip while returning to its perch. So look out overhead when passing through our town for eagles and falling fish!
 

Eagle Info
The average adult eagle stands around two feet in height and they are around 30-40 inches in length weighing about 8-14 pounds. The female is larger than the male. The bald eagle embodies power and majesty. Eagles have yellow bills and feet; legs are feathered halfway down. The mature eagle's head is covered with gleaming white feathers. Young eagles are brown, mottled with white on their wings and body. Full adult plumage is attained in the fifth year.  They fly with strong, deep strokes, and will soar the currents that ride the Granite cliff of the Susquehanna. Eagle’s eyesight is five or six times sharper than a human's.

Feeding
They feed mainly on fish (75% of their diet) either living or rotting. They also eat birds and small mammals. Eagles like to soar above water or sit on a perch overlooking there food source. When they spot a fish near the water's surface, they swoop down and snatch it in their talons. They use their talons for killing, and their heavy bills for tearing meat apart for eating.

Mating
Eagles are loyal bird that mates for life, if one partner where to dies; the other will find a new mate. Before breeding eagles will perform an aerial courtship, the birds will lock talons and do somersaults while diving towards earth.

Nesting
A new nest is about five feet wide and two feet high, with an inside 4-5 inches deep and 1 1/2 foot in diameter. Usually a pair will return to the same nest year after year. They will rebuild the nest by adding new layers of sticks, branches. The nest will be lined with cornstalks, grass and moss. Because Eagle like large nests they sometime so too far and break the branches supporting them.

Survival
The female lays two eggs about 2 3/4 by 2 1/2 inches, late March or April. Their eggs are muted white with no marking. The eggs usually hatch in around 35 days. Young birds (eaglets) are fed by their parents. Ever the predator a healthy hatchling may kill their smaller weaker sibling.

Eaglets develop most of their feathers by 3-4 weeks and start walking around the nest around 2 months. They begin to fly at about three months. The young will separate from their parents in autumn. Only 50 percent of eaglets will survive their first year. Bald eagles can live 30 years or longer in the wild.

Maryland eagles seem to spend much of the winter near their nesting area and apparently they do not like to migrate.