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The American Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States of America since 1782!  Their not really bald, but their white head and brown bodies make it seem like they are.   Bald Eagles are one of the largest birds in the world.  Their wingspan is an amazing 7 foot wide, they weigh between 7-15 pounds and stand around 28-38 inches tall! Living near water, bald eagles eat fish, ducks, snakes, turtles, rabbits and, yes, dead animals.  They use their great sense of sight and strong claws, also known as talons, to grab and kill their prey.   Bald eagles attack their prey by diving down on them at an angle and can reach speeds of up to 100 mph when diving. At around 4-5 years of age, the Eagle begins to choose a mate.   Once they have found a mate, its for life.  If one dies, they will choose another mate.  They make their homes in large trees near water (both fresh and salt), bald eagles build huge nests, called eyries, out of sticks, moss and leaves.  Generally, their nests are at least 2 ft deep and 5 ft across but can be bigger.  These nests have been known to weigh up to 2000 lbs.  So don't think you can just find one and take it home. A mating pair has up to three eggs a year, though it is not likely that all three will survive.  Both parents take turns keeping the eggs warm.  Yes, dad does his part also.  While one is warming the eggs, the other searches for food or more nesting materials. It only takes a little over a month and the eggs hatch.   Bald eagles are not born with their beautiful brown and white look. When baby eaglets hatch, their entire bodies are covered with light gray feathers.  Around...

Taking Children on Their First Fishing Trip!

SourceFew memories last as long as those surrounding your first fishing trip ( family’s first RV trip maybe? ). You probably still remember the sights, sounds and smiles of the occasion vividly, and you probably look back on the outing fondly. Now, so many years later, it is time to introduce your children to angling. You certainly don’t have to do anything fancy to introduce children to the sport, but it helps to have a good game plan in place. After all, you may be introducing your children to a lifelong hobby, and you want to get started on the right foot.   Good Gear for Kids Adult anglers often enjoy using the most complicated and nuanced tackle and presentations possible in pursuit of their quarry, but this is obviously not a good idea for youngsters. When fishing with kids, simplicity is the name of the game. This means that it is best to use cane poles or spinning reels instead of bait-casting gear or other complicated systems. You should probably start young children out by fishing with a bobber and live bait, instead of lures, which is more likely to become snagged on the bottom, and will take some skill to cast and retrieve properly. Additionally, kids will often appreciate being able to see their float bounce and bob around in the water, rather than trying to use a submersible lure, which requires them to feel and interpret the location of the bait. To fish this way, you’ll need A pole strung with lightweight (4- to 8-pound-test will suffice) fishing line. To this, you’ll need to attach a float or bobber, with a small hook (#8 to #12) tied to the end of the line. A live bait of your choice can then be threaded on the hook. Sometimes, you may need to attach a bit of split shot to the line between the bobber...