The Bald Eagle, the Improbable Journey of America’s Bird

by Jack Emerson Davis

Bald Eagles were once so abundant in America that their nests existed along every mile or two of shoreline. Projecting strength, courage and a “Don’t Tread on me” stare, the bird in all of its manifestations came to reflect the American spirit, and quickly gained a high perch in American iconography appearing everywhere from the Capital Dome and pediments in the nineteenth century to brandname clothing in our time.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Nature, Science, Animals, Birds, Natural History

417 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2022

About the author

Jack Emerson Davis is Professor of History and the Rothman Family Chair in the Humanities at the University of Florida. He is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird by Jack Emerson Davis is a 2022 Liveright publication.

According to Jack E. Davis the Bald Eagle has never been officially made the National bird of the United States, although our government websites list them as such.

No president or Congress as ever signed a proclamation or passed a law declaring the Bald Eagle to be our national bird.

This is the way Davis begins this book about the Bald Eagle and from there takes the reader on an interesting journey that covers the history of the Bald Eagle beginning with the story of how it became the symbol that graced the Great Seal of the United States, and through to present day.

Davis explores the eagle’s long history, not just as an American symbol, but the behaviors of the bird, its habits, etc., dispelling myths, and examining human interactions with the great bird, and how it nearly became extinct, not once, but twice.

“Humans had made the world confusing for the bald eagle. They had saddled the top predator with an undeserved reputation for being a tyrant and shameless coward, and ornithologists had affirmed that reputation. Yet, paradoxically, Americans also put the bald eagle up on a symbolic perch, where it asserted the ennobling virtues of a great nation.”

The Eagle has a split personality it seems- greatly admired and revered by some, but by others, the bird does not impress. Farmers and the Audubon society expressed disdain towards the Eagle.

The native people gave the eagle spiritual connotations, but the bird has often been a frequent target- not just from guns, but from poisons. But the Eagle, with the help of its champions has survived against all odds.

The bird is often a model for artists, there are sports teams named after it, and celebrities have attached their names to the conservation cause.

Thankfully, there were programs put in place that saved the Eagle, and attitudes toward the bird became more enlightened as people have become more conscious and informed about ecology, and about animals’ relation to humans, while stupid myths have been debunked.

Overall, this comprehensive history of the bald eagle is fascinating, but is also an easy and enjoyable book to read.

[Olive Fellows (abookolive)]

Except for the American flag, nothing is more emblematic of the land of the free than the bald eagle. It’s an association that dates back to the days of the Founding Fathers, and the raptor is so closely linked with the United States that it often serves as a stand-in for the nation in countless political cartoons. But the iconic creature at the center of the soaring new book “The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird,” by Jack E. Davis, has faced its own share of struggles over the nation’s history.

Click here to read the rest of my review in the Christian Science Monitor!

[Brina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Majestic homage to our national bird by Pulitzer winning author Davis. Full review soon.

[Jifu · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this work courtesy of NetGalley)

I honestly don’t think that a book can possibly be any more thorough and comprehensive on the cultural and natural history of the bald eagle than Jack Emerson Davis’s latest work, The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey.

In the very unlikely event that someone does pull off such a feat, then I still strongly doubt anyone can match the spectacular accessibility of the author’s writing. It’s a challenge enough as it is to research an extensive history on any topic. But no less difficult is presenting such histories in a way that doesn’t result in a dry information dump that either easily exhausts a reader, swamps them, or both. The balancing act is a tricky one, but Davis most definitely pulls it off in spades here. His sweeping history includes, but is not limited to, the roles of eagles in the culture and rituals of various indigenous American tribes, the long era era that the birds spent as a paradox as both treasured national symbol and loathed predatory pest, the two different times they were pushed to the brink of extinction and the measures taken to bring them back. Yet the wealth of knowledge delivered through the book’s over four hundred pages never felt overwhelming. If anything, I felt like I was able to absorb it almost effortlessly. His writing flows with both clarity and an enthusiasm for his subject material that proves wonderfully infectious. However, this passion never veers anywhere close to fawning, which given just how over the top the bald eagle’s totemic treatment can get in the US, is a relief. He grants respect to where it’s due, and withholds it from where it’s not, and has a total lack of patience for misconceptions or myths that I much appreciated. For example, a line that stood out to me early on:

“The Founders - who disallowed women’s rights, regarded Indians as uncivilized, and held Africans and African Americans in bondage - failed to live up to their own philosophy, falsifying the freedoms embodied in their iconic bird to the benefit of white privilege.”

I can now see how he’s earned himself a Pulitzer, amongst other awards, for his prior major work The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea (a work that has now been added to my to-read itinerary).

With a delightfully unexpected new fascination for a very particular bird now blazing within, I am happy to declare this not only a fantastic work of nonfiction, but one of my favorite reads of the year.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the bald eagle's decline and recovery is a great conservation story and Jack Davis made some parts of it very interesting. Unfortunately, a 388-page book turned out to be too much on the subject for me.

I enjoyed the stories of Old Abe, the Civil War mascot, the reintroduction efforts and the eagle cams. What I did not love were the many lengthy digressions into not very interesting topics, such as the history of official seals around the world. And when Davis went into detailed descriptions of landscape painters who didn't even paint eagles, I was about ready to give up on the book. Surely one paragraph would have been enough for that.

I am nevertheless glad that this book was written because I hope it leads those who read it into a deeper appreciation of the natural world. As Davis points out, when populations of people and eagles grow, there are more conflicts between them. Eagles need all the champions they can get and I'm definitely on their side.

[Wayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the acknowledgments section the author wrote, "writing a book is a tedious task". Reading this book was a tedious task. I am fascinated with bald eagles but this book was dull and not nearly as informative as a 400 page book should be.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book that falls into the category "I read this so you don't have to." This was a dull slog of a book that could have used a decent editor. Rife with errors on what seemed like every other page, I was surprised it made it through an alleged academic's computer screen, let alone any professional editor or publisher's screening process. One very memorable quote talked about "German missionaries" who fought during the American revolution - a truly novel way to refer to what (one assumes) were Prussian mercenaries. There was also the nonsensical phrase "taxidermied likeness" to refer to the stuffed carcass of a bird - a likeness is, of course, a depiction or a copy, not the actual thing. Almost anything that looks like a specific bird, *except* its taxidermied body, is a "likeness."
On top of the insultingly slapped-together nature that the author and editors assumed the public just wouldn't notice, it is a dull read about what should have been a fascinating subject. It sacrificed interest and integrity to hit many hot contemporary topics: Indians appeared in cartoonish one-dimensional caricature, half a (painfully long) chapter was dedicated to a threesome of eagles as an example of an "unconventional family" that "taught Americans about acceptance of other lifestyles" (notwithstanding the fact that it was documented in 2020 and most Americans have never heard of this avian thruple), and the noble eagle as a symbol of Joe Biden's reuniting of America and the healing of the climate.
I am sure there are better books about the bald eagle out there. Even if there aren't, do yourself a favor and read the Wikipedia page instead, don't waste your time on this absolute dumpster fire.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bald Eagle by Jack E. Davis is a fabulous and beyond intriguing and comprehensive nonfiction on the history of this majestic bird and its place in our American history and culture.

I am beyond impressed with this book. The author has done an exorbitant amount of footwork and research and clearly shows his intellect and passion for the subject matter.

I have learned so much from this book. It encompasses information on the Bald Eagle itself, but also its references from a historical aspect involving not just the American (English American) point of view, but also its historical significance within Native American cultures as well.

We also learn the origins of its introduction into the US culture and also its reincarnations within our nation’s history, how it has evolved, and its significance and role from a contemporary standpoint in America.

All of this information could be overwhelming and could be presented in a disjointed manner in the hands of someone less talented, however Mr. Davis is able to carefully craft a way to not only inform and educate the reader, but also to engage, enthrall, and entertain at the same time. I learned so much while reading this book, yet when I finished, I felt like it took no time at all. The way the information is presented and the pacing of the book made it feel effortless.

I am beyond impressed and recommend this gem to anyone and everyone.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you NG and Liveright/W.W. Norton & Company for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/1/22.

[Gerry Dincher · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a disappointment. Davis uses too much figurative language. There are too many errors to count. Juno instead of Juneau. James Clark instead of William Clark. Somebody went referring up a tree. It's amazing. The copy editor must have been asleep. Some content is excellent, but overall, it's pop history, and science with a large helping of white guilt.

[Aaron Wempe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what I expected, not bad at all although it was very different. It reads a bit more like a textbook than what you would expect.

[Robert Mulvihill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly researched and written.

[Dalton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to be honest, after 150 pages I ended up putting this one down. I was really looking forward to this one, having long been an admirer of bald eagles and taken an interest in ornithology and history. However, what could have proved to be an exciting and fascinating read about Haliaeetus leucocephalus proved to be one overstuffed with nonessential, tangential, and dry information dumps. A key examples comes early in the text about the creation of the United States seal and it’s iconic eagle centric imagery. Three committees were convened with only the third even discussing, let alone agreeing upon, an eagle design. However, Jack E. Davis spends pages detailing the first two committees, their members, ideas, and meanings behind them. At some points you forget you’re meant to be reading a book about bald eagles. Suffice to say, I was disappointed with this and believe a thinner, more focused read could have truly soared.

[Jim Gallen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Bald Eagle: The Improbably Journey of America’s Bird” is an entertaining and informative, multi-disciplinary journey through the Bald Eagle’s life as raptor, prey and national symbol.

This work is divided into four sections: A Bird for a New Nation; Predator, Symbol and Divine Messenger; New Science and New Attitudes; and Restoration.

The first section explores a new nation’s search for a new seal, the contenders for its central image and, once the eagle had been chosen, its depiction in seals, buttons, and insignia of the fledging nation.

Part two deals with the down and dirty. The eagle kills and eats fish and terrestrial animals and, at times, snatches its meals from their prey’s killers. Its reputation was worse than its practice as it was falsely accused of carrying off sheep, cattle and children, all outweighing its lift capacity. It was revered by Indians, shined on our jewelry, and fell in the cross hairs of farmers and ranchers. Our National Icon was regarded as a nuisance to be extirpated from the fruited plain.

The third segment of this book documents the change in attitudes permitting the advent of legal protections for Bald Eagles and other raptors through the repeatedly amended “Bale Eagle Protection Act.” Though protected from hunting, eagles would soon have their numbers decimated by more deadly and secretive killers, DDT and other insecticides.

The concluding chapters explain the struggle to improve eagles’ environment and retore their numbers and range.

Author Jack E. Davis has crafted a narrative blending history, botany, human interest stories and activism into a highly readable, inspiring and edifying book. I recommend it to all with an interest in eagles in themselves or as part of our natural history.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Schu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America's Bird is a fascinating read. The author thoroughly covers the history and the bird's relationship with humans. The book begins with how the bird became an icon for early America (US) and those that opposed using the bald eagle as our 'mascot.' There is a great deal of information about the anatomy of the bald eagle, which was fascinating. There is so much that I didn't know about this beautiful raptor. The book delves into Audubon's contributions (including how he contributed to the culling of this grand bird for his research) and Audubon's later actions to protect the bald eagle. The book spans early America into the late 20th century, with a great deal of research on the impact of pesticides on aviary life.
Again, this is a fascinating nonfiction account of the bald eagle, and I would recommend it to those who would like to know more about the history of the bald eagle.
🦅🦅🦅🦅

[Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joins the illustrious and very niche group of ‘non-fiction books that purport to be about one specific thing and then teach me a bunch of cool stuff about other topics’ with What Made Maddy Run, There are No Accidents, and No Beast So Fierce

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davis’s epic story of the American bald eagle is so jam-packed with information that I needed several breaks while reading. Too much to absorb in one go.

A mild beef with the illustrations: they are not referenced in the text or the notes, appear to be in no particular order, and are way too few.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a book about birds so I oughta love it, but this one was just so dry. I have read many other nonfiction works about birds and the ones I rate highly (e.g., A Most Remarkable Journey, Owls of the Eastern Ice) read like the best adventure stories. The Bald Eagle was about as straightforward as the title suggests—lots of information, some of it new to me, but I plowed through it the way I would a textbook.

I appreciated reading about the near-double extinction of bald eagles—the first through rampant hunting, often encouraged by bounties for taking out these pesky marauders, the second because of DDT. Interesting to read how long it took to disabuse people of the idea that a bald eagle could grab a baby human from your yard. Nope.

What prevented this book from reaching the heights of other bird stories is that the Pulitzer Prize-winning author was reporting, not experiencing. That produced a book that was good, not great.

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of facts and history; well researched. Perfect for the appropriate reader. I was not that reader.

[Cheryl Gatling]

My home town of Syracuse has become a hot spot for bald eagle watching. They are a common enough site around Onondaga Lake that some people travel here just to see them, and they have their own Facebook page: The Bald Eagles of Onondaga Lake. So I was happy to have the chance to learn more about them.

This book does tell you about the eagles: their nesting, and mating, and hunting habits. But it is mostly about the role of eagles in the history of America. To begin with, the bald eagle was put on the seal of the United States of America, and became a symbol of the country. As a symbol, the eagle was put on all kinds of things: coins, buttons, paintings, and was honored as an embodiment of strength and freedom.

But in real life, a lot of people hated eagles. They got bad press from the beginning, for stealing fish from ospreys. Apparently they really do this. An eagle will fly at an osprey carrying a fish, until the osprey drops the fish. Then the eagle will snatch it out of the air. Therefore, people despised the eagles for being lazy, cowardly, and immoral.

Farmers hated eagles for stealing their livestock. Eagles had the reputation for carrying off whole pigs, and even children. Eagles can snatch chickens, and the youngest newborn lambs, but they can’t carry anything heavier than five pounds. So definitely no children. (There was a movie that depicted an eagle carrying off a child, but it was completely faked.) Eagles also did a lot of unsung good for farmers by killing the rodents that ate the grain.

Fishermen hated eagles because eagles eat fish. And they do. One of the places where eagles were most hated was in Alaska, where fishing is the livelihood of many people. For many years, Alaska had a bounty on bald eagles. They paid 50 cents to a dollar for a pair of talons, and thousands were cashed in.

The story of the book is that the bald eagle came back from extinction twice. The first time they were hunted almost to extinction. They were shot wholesale, for sport, because they were considered vermin, and just because they were there. Congress passed a law protecting eagles (with an exemption for Alaska), and there was a gradual change in attitudes. As the eagles’ numbers began to decline, people became concerned about preserving the national symbol.

Then, when the numbers began to rebound, DDT was invented. DDT was used to kill insects, but it traveled up the food chain. It caused eagles’ (and other birds’) egghsells to be thin, and break. Eagles weren’t having babies. Again, the numbers of eagles began to plummet. People were again concerned that they were facing extinction. Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring was one of the things that raised awareness of DDT, and it was banned.

Numbers rebounded again, partly just by nature doing its thing, but also because of scientists who worked in special breeding programs. There are many stories of devoted and brave people climbing into nests, building special towers where eaglets could grow without seeing people, and feeding chunks of raw fish to babies using a puppet arm.

The book has a lot of interesting stories about interesting people throughout. In general, I think the book had too many words. The language is flowery at times, and when the author tells a story, he tends to include a lot of detail. But I read the whole thing.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the feel of a microhistory, this book tells much more than the history of this remarkable bird of prey, but the relevant history of the nation that claimed it as a seal symbol. Along the way we learn "bald" is more about its naked thefts from ospreys and humans and not a perceived lack of head plumage. Peaking during the 19th Century this perception of the would-be majestic bird as a low scavenger and thief led to organized and informal hunts including Alaska bounties leading to well over a hundred thousand slain birds. Suffering also from DDT and more, this story charts the acceptance and glorification even to the nest cam era.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so interesting, but VERY information packed. I had to take several breaks to digest. My mind was blown a few times (like learning we don't officially have a national bird!) and color me surprised when Dolly Parton was mentioned (is there ANYTHING she doesn't do??). If you like non-fiction or are simply a curious person, I'd give it a chance.

[Becky Loader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Bald Eagles, but this book actually has more information than I ever needed.

However, the chapter with Ben Franklin in it is very interesting: that thing about him suggesting the turkey as the national bird is a myth.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great bald eagle fun facts, though this book prob could have been half as long. One weird fact is that it's not really clear why the bald eagle was chosen to be on the US Great Seal? It seems like the artist just kinda liked bald eagles?? Also crazy is that the US government used to PAY people to kill bald eagles b/c people thought that bald eagles hunted babies. (They, uh, do not.) 130,000 bald eagles were killed this way!! wtf!!

[Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bald Eagle was already the perfect symbol for a new nation: independent, mighty, and honorable. But the hardships it has faced since America’s founding days shows its resilience and heighten survivability which further reinforces the strength of its symbol for our nation. Great book.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Excellent history of how the bald eagle became our national symbol. The bulk of the book is about the eagle as an endangered species and conservation efforts.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book!!

[Deborah Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing history of the American bald eagle.

[Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing a book about the American History of Bald Eagles has got to be tough; there’s so much to pack in. The challenge is deciding what to leave in to keep it interesting and what to take out to keep the reader from going cross eyed with all the facts. Overall, this was an amazing endeavor to pull together all this history into one book, and the author had to invest so much time in doing it, but it wasn’t all for me. I enjoyed reading about one of my conservation heroes, Rosalie Edge, and about some of the anthropogenic challenges that Bald Eagles have faced and are still facing. But it was an exhausting book.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but pretty long and I couldn't take the graphic bird deaths.