The Bald Eagle

The Improbable Journey of America's Bird

By: Jack E. Davis

Narrated by: Dan John Miller

From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Gulf, a sweeping cultural and natural history of the bald eagle in America.

The bald eagle is regal but fearless, a bird you’re not inclined to argue with. For centuries, Americans have celebrated it as “majestic” and “noble,” yet savaged the living bird behind their national symbol as a malicious predator of livestock and, falsely, a snatcher of babies. Taking us from before the nation’s founding through inconceivable resurgences of this enduring all-American species, Jack E. Davis contrasts the age when native peoples lived beside it peacefully with that when others, whether through hunting bounties or DDT pesticides, twice pushed Haliaeetus leucocephalus to the brink of extinction.

Filled with spectacular stories of Founding Fathers, rapacious hunters, heroic bird rescuers, and the lives of bald eagles themselves—monogamous creatures, considered among the animal world’s finest parents—The Bald Eagle is a much-awaited cultural and natural history that demonstrates how this bird’s wondrous journey may provide inspiration today, as we grapple with environmental peril on a larger scale.

*Includes a downloadable PDF of images from the book

Americas Eagle story

Incredible detail of American history relative to its choice of a eagle as its symbol, but not national bird! Noted alternatives of turkey by Audubon. And Audubon’s historical data, and how he collected it. Not really keeping birds, life and death of any consequence. Great book!

Decent, second half was better

The first half was a bit of a slog. Giving historical context to eagle symbology in USA culture, way too wordy without painting a clear concise picture.

Second half was good, outlining biology of the birds, significance to Indigenous groups, and contemporary political and social issues surrounding wildlife.

A big issue was how the Endangered Species Act and the hunting/fishing population was handled by the writer. The North American model of conservation is funded by hunters and anglers. While irresponsible, illegal poaching and slaughter of predators and game species was a major problem, hunters and anglers are aligned in their goals with any true conservationist: healthy ecosystems that include the plants, fungi, and all animal species on the landscape. A more balanced, objective viewpoint would have made the last few chapters better.

Comments from a reader

Absolutely phenomenal! This is a must read for those who love to learn. I found a deeper appreciation for nature, the bald eagle in particular, because I read this book.

Ruined by Political Bias

What could have been a great story was frequently interrupted by attacts on former President Donald J Trump. I was really excited when this book got recommended to me because I love the bald eagle and the beautiful country it represents. It took me 3x longer than average to listen to this because the author frequently interrupted the narrative with sidebars that did not work for me. There are some very strong moments in this book (The history of both Challenger and Old Abe) but they are few and far between.

I thought the book would be about the bald eagle

Oddly, the author takes detours into how America unjust, racist, etc. I thought it would be a book about the bird