The Golden and the Bald Eagle are the eagles most commonly seen in North America. The Bald Eagle is the official bird of the United States. Its picture appears on many papers, coins and currency. Many people consider the Bald Eagle to be the most beautiful and impressive of all birds. Fully grown, it stands three feet high, weighs about ten pounds, and has a wingspan of six to seven feet. It has a golden-brown body with snow-white feathers on its head, neck and the lower part of its back. Contrasted with this is the yellow in its eyes, its razor-sharp beak and its legs and claws, all of which make it a striking picture.
The Creator designed this bird for its special place in His creation. It has exceptional beauty, whether sitting on a limb or circling high in the air. Its eyes (eight times sharper than a man’s) can spot a rabbit two miles away or a fish far below. Its food is primarily fish, but it also eats mice, gophers, rabbits, snakes and some birds. It might even snatch a chicken from a farmer’s yard. Spotting its prey, it may circle down swiftly or make a direct dive at a speed of 100 miles per hour, stopping suddenly as the curved talons of its feet grab its victim.
Seeing an osprey or fish hawk flying home with a fish, the eagle often swoops down and frightens it into dropping its food. Then the eagle dives down again and catches the prize for itself. Often, while looking for its food, it will perch on a dead tree high on a bluff, just as they did in Bible days when the Lord asked Job, “both the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on...the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.” Job 39:27-2927Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? 28She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. 29From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. (Job 39:27‑29).
The male and female stay together for life. Their nest, usually in a high tree, is added to each year and may weigh a ton or more. They like to decorate these nests with bright things like buttons, colored glass, shells, etc. Only one or two eggs are laid each year and take a month to hatch. The eaglets live on food brought to them by their parents. If both little ones are healthy, they gain strength by playing tug-of-war with sticks or having make-believe battles. They first learn to fly by hovering over the nest, but when three months old they will leave it. If a little one is afraid to fly, the mother may push it out, then swoop below and allow it to rest on her back when it gets tired. The Lord spoke of this concerning his people Israel: “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord did lead (them).” Deuteronomy 32:11,1211As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: 12So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. (Deuteronomy 32:11‑12).
Another verse from the Bible states, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” Isaiah 40:3131But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31). If the Lord Jesus Christ is your Saviour you will find Him always able and willing to give you the strength you need for your Christian walk.
ML-12/05/1982