LINCOLN
Species: Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Bald Eagle • Hatch Year: 1998 • Sex: Male • Disability: Human Imprint
Lincoln was hatched at the American Eagle Foundation’s (AEF) Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, where he was raised by his non-releasable parents, Liberty and Justice, until he was eight weeks old. He and his siblings were then moved to AEF’s hacking tower on Douglas Lake to prepare for life in the wild.
Upon his release, Lincoln demonstrated incredible endurance, flying 550 miles within his first two weeks. However, he soon began seeking out humans for food, first in Indiana and later in Michigan, indicating difficulty in hunting on his own. As he grew weaker and hungrier, he struggled to survive.
In September 1998, Lincoln was found, rehabilitated to a healthy weight, and returned to Tennessee for an assessment. When placed in an enclosure with live prey, he was unable to hunt successfully. Due to his inability to survive in the wild, U.S. Fish and Wildlife deemed him non-releasable, and he found a permanent home at AEF.
Since then, Lincoln has become a beloved ambassador for his species, captivating thousands through educational programs and impressive flight demonstrations. Through school visits, public events, and media appearances, Lincoln has helped inspire people of all ages to appreciate and protect birds of prey.
More recently, Lincoln has gained national recognition for his breathtaking free flights during the National Anthem at the past seven Philadelphia Eagles games. His soaring presence not only ignites excitement among fans but also encourages them to learn more about the species and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of wildlife conservation.
Lincoln plays a crucial role in teaching the public about bald eagles, conservation, and the challenges these birds face in the wild.
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
Bald Eagles were placed at the center of the Great Seal of the United States in 1782! Since then, they have served as the pride of America’s skies and the symbol of all that America stands for.
Bald Eagles obviously aren’t bald! “Bald” in this sense refers to an Middle English word that means “white headed.” When eagles fledge the nest at between 10 and 13 weeks of age, they are primarily all brown. An Eagle gets its full white head and tail feathers and yellow beak and eyes at around four to five years of age.
Bald Eagles typically mate for life. Usually, they will only look for a new mate if their faithful companion dies, but sometimes a new mate is chosen in a territorial fight over a nest.
In building a nest, Bald Eagles will choose a ‘super-canopy’ tree—one rising above the rest— near to water, with sturdy limbs and a commanding view of the surrounding terrain. Typical nest heights are 50-125 feet high. They make use of twigs, grasses, soft mosses and feathers in making their nests and normally return to the same nest each year during breeding season and add new materials to it. A new eagle pair’s nest usually measures about five feet in width and two feet in depth. As they add to it year after year, however, it can reach widths of over ten feet and weigh up to a ton or more. On the Channel Islands, where large trees are very scarce, Bald Eagles have built their nests on cliffs; and, in some coastal areas of Alaska and Canada where there are few tall trees, Bald Eagles will nest on the ground, using whatever materials are available.