About Bald Eagle

• Bald eagle, the only eagle solely native to North America, and the national bird of the United States.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern
• The bird is not actually bald; its name derives from the conspicuous appearance of its white-feathered head. 
• Human predators and use of DDT pesticide are major threats to this bird. 
• DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is used as pesticide for agricultural uses, But this pesticide accumulated in the birds’ tissues and interfered with the formation of the shells of their eggs; the thin, weak shells laid by heavily contaminated birds were easily broken and fewer young were produced. 
• Their population dropped  to just 450 nesting pairs in the 1960s. 

Why in the news?

• In the recent report published by the United States, the population of the bald eagle has quadrupled since 2009.
• The  step of banning DDT pesticide since 1972 has been a great boon for this bird.

References:

1. https://www.britannica.com/animal/bald-eagle
2. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/us-bald-eagle-soars-back-from-near-extinction/article34182337.ece
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_eagle