The Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus is not actually bald. The name derives from the older meaning of the word, "white headed". Bald Eagles are sexually mature at four or five years of age. When they are old enough to breed, they often return to the area where they were born. It is thought that Bald Eagles mate for life. However, if one member of a pair dies or disappears, the other will choose a new mate.

The World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis has some new residents. Two bald eagles, along with their eggs and nest are being relocated here. The eagles come from Michigan where a facility is closing. The bald eagles will be in their nest, but not with their eggs. Their eggs will be placed under chickens. The chickens are a special breed of bird created nearly 20 years ago to sit on the eggs of birds of prey. The eagle eggs are expected to hatch in two to three weeks. 

Once a common sight in much of the continent, the Bald Eagle was severely affected in the mid-20th century by a variety of factors, among them the thinning of egg shells attributed to use of the pesticide DDT. By the 1950s there were only 412 nesting pairs in the 48 States of the US.

With regulations in place and DDT banned, the eagle population rebounded. The Bald Eagle can be found in growing concentrations throughout the United States and Canada, particularly near large bodies of water.