Why the Bald Eagle Came Back
High in the branches of a tall white pine, a parent eagle sits on a wide nest of sticks. Below, a river flows with clear water, offering plenty of fish for hungry chicks. Decades ago, this peaceful scene almost disappeared from North America. The bald eagle, chosen in 1782 as the national symbol of the United States, faced a severe crisis that nearly wiped it out. Understanding why the eagle vanished requires looking closely at how living things connect in nature.
The Hidden Danger in the Food Web
In the middle of the twentieth century, farmers began using a powerful chemical called DDT to kill insect pests on crops. While the chemical succeeded at killing bugs, rain washed the chemical off fields and into nearby streams and lakes. Small fish and water plants absorbed the chemical into their bodies. Larger fish then ate many of the smaller creatures, causing the chemical to collect in their tissues at even higher levels.
- crisis:
- A very difficult or dangerous situation that requires immediate attention.
- tissues:
- The groups of cells that form the structural parts of an animal or plant body.
- incubation:
- The period when parent birds sit on their eggs to keep them warm so they can hatch.
- habitats:
- The natural homes or environments where animals and plants live and grow.
- biologists:
- Scientists who study living things and their environments.
- extinction:
- The complete disappearance of a living species from Earth.
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Main Idea
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What symbol was the bald eagle chosen to represent in 1782?
- 2Why did farmers begin using the chemical DDT in the mid-twentieth century?
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About this report passage for 4th Grade
“Why the Bald Eagle Came Back” is a report reading passage about bald eagle conservation and recovery, written for 4th Grade. It takes about 3 minutes to read (524 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.