A majestic bald eagle was recently seen drifting down the Detroit River on a slab of ice, savoring a freshly caught fish like a seasoned sea captain surveying his domain.
Michigan Bald Eagles
Bald eagles were once widespread across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, but their numbers plummeted in the mid-20th century. Populations were devastated by the pesticide DDT, which caused eggshell thinning and reproductive failure, along with habitat loss and hunting pressure.
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Bald eagles were once hunted in Michigan, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when they were often labeled as vermin and viewed as threats to livestock and commercial fishing operations.
Growing up in Michigan, spotting a bald eagle was a rarity unless you were in the northern Lower Peninsula or the Upper Peninsula. Since the late 1980s and 1990s, however, eagles have steadily expanded their range and are now seen much more frequently in the southern Lower Peninsula.
Bald eagles are now being spotted across Michigan, including one recently seen floating down the Detroit River.
Hungry Eagle Turns Iceberg Into Dinner Table
Recently, a bald eagle was caught on video drifting down the Detroit River atop an iceberg. The footage appears to have been taken from a very tall building in Detroit, and when the camera zooms in, you can clearly see the eagle enjoying its lunch.
Check out the video above and see the eagle enjoy its Motor City lunch…