Those who stuck around long enough after the field trip portion of Saturday’s Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory-Pelican Island Audubon Society conservation stewardship class were treated to the sight of two adult Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and a juvenile Bald Eagle soaring overhead above the Audubon House located at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area. Juvenile Bald Eagles, like the one pictured above, don’t attain the classic Bald Eagle appearance until four to five years of age when they molt into their adult plumage that includes the all-white head, and creamy brown feathers. Until then, juvenile Eagles sport cryptic plumage of a rather random design that aids to camouflage them giving these inexperienced youngsters a bit of protection.

An adult Bald Eagle showing the more recognizable plumage associated with this large raptor.

Learn more about ORCA at www.ourorca.org