School mascot soars off endangered list

By Jerod Barker

September 11, 2007

On Aug. 30, Silver Lake's school symbol for pride and excellence took flight once again when the government officially took the eagle off the Endangered Species List.

According to CNN.com, a ceremony recently took place in front of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. to celebrate this incredible comeback for the bird of prey.

The species’ population started to severely decline around 1970 due to habitat destruction, hunting, and contamination of its food source.

Developers and landowners were moving into the eagles' habitat and cutting down their nesting trees for construction. Poachers were moving in on the birds themselves for their feathers and eggs.

The article noted that a major cause for the decline was the use of DDT, a very powerful insecticide that made eggshells so weak and vulnerable, the offspring inside couldn't survive.

Artwork obtained from Google.com

Fortunately, the use of DDT was outlawed in 1972, and the eagle was placed under protection. Since then, the birds have made an inspirational return.

Today there are 9,789 breeding eagle pairs in the wild, as opposed to the alarming 417 recorded in 1963, even before the major decline.

Though being de-listed was a great triumph for the animal, wild life conservationists and biologists are apprehensive of what is to come.

Leaving the list means giving up the protection that came with the label “endangered.” Eagles nest near coastlines, rivers, and large lakes, habitats that are easily disrupted by contractors and construction.

According to the article, the eagles’ homes are especially in danger now that there is no habitat laws and no one to stop what caused the decline of the population in the first place.

Artwork obtained from Google.com

Specialists are hopeful, however, with an endangered list recovery rate of one percent, they are counting on the other 1,300 protected species to follow the eagle's example.