Return of the Eagle How America Saved Its National Symbol

by Breining, Greg; Oberle, Frank

• ISBN13: 9780762747900
• ISBN10: 0762747900
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-26
• Publisher: Lyons Press

Summary

This is the story of how a nation reversed a "silent spring" and saved the bald eagle from extinction. This bird of prey was declared the national symbol in 1782 but, by the 1960s, pollution and development had wiped out all but a few dozen. Grassroots movements started, the American consciousness was raised to all environmental threats, and federal laws were passed to keep the eagle population alive. This stunning book of full-colour photographs and touching stories chronicles this inspiring success story with awe-inspiring shots of eagles in flight. There is also a one-of-a-kind directory to more than 150 areas in the nation where eagles are likely to be seen in the wild, soaring once again against the blue skies of freedom. This book is a monument to the efforts that combined animal instinct for survival with the power of the human spirit to change the world.

Excerpts

Incomparable for their grace, strength and beauty, eagles have been admired throughout the ages. Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans adopted the eagle as a symbol of earthly power and divine right. Native Americans revered our own native bald eagle for its power and keen eyesight. They coveted its feathers for headdresses and other ceremonial objects. And, of course, in 1782 the bald eagle was chosen as our national symbol.

 

The bald eagle's power and beauty impress us today, inspiring the legions of citizens who have helped to rescue this magnificent bird from the dark days of the 1960s, when the eagle's numbers in the lower forty-eight states had dwindled to fewer than 1,000 nesting birds and the bald eagle was declared an endangered species.

---

Excerpted from Return of the Eagle: How America Saved Its National Symbol by Greg Breining
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.