Birdland

Symbol Of Freedom And Courage

The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782. Representing bravery and wisdom, these birds have been important spiritual symbols for native people far longer than that. Juvenile Bald Eagles, like the one pictured here, have mostly dark heads and tails. It takes about five years for them to attain the distinctive white-headed plumage of adulthood. Once endangered, Bald Eagles have made a comeback; one was even recently spotted in City Park. This juvenile was photographed at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge north of Park Hill by Mark Silverstein.