Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Birds
The bald eagle, the USA's national symbol since 1782, is the only eagle unique to North
America. Its wingspan can reach more than 6.5ft across. Good wintertime viewing sites
are along the Mississippi River in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois; in summer, eagles
are common throughout Florida, wherever there's fish-rich water for chowing alongside
tall trees for nesting. The eagle has come off the endangered species list, having made a
remarkable comeback from a low of 417 breeding pairs in 1963 to more than 9750 pairs
today (that's in the lower 48 states; another 30,000-plus live in Alaska).
White pelicans, which are among the region's largest birds, arrive in winter (October
to April), while brown pelicans, the only kind to dive for their food, live here year-round.
They're found around the Gulf Coast and throughout Florida.
