Photos: Bald Eagles of the Mighty Mississippi

Bald Eagle

Once placed on the Endangered Species List in 1967, the bald eagle population has climbed from a low in the 1950s of only 412 nesting pairs in the 48 contiguous states to 11,040 nesting pairs counted in 2007. The total bald eagle population across all of North America is currently believed to be about 140,000 adult birds.

The great birds were removed from protection of the Endangered Species Act in June 2007 but continue to be protected in the United States by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940.