External Anatomy Very tall, straight characteristic dorsal fin up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) in males Jet black and pure white coloration White patch behind each eye Gray saddle patch behind dorsal fin White chin, chest and sides Large, paddle-shaped flippers Robust, heavy, stocky body Rounded head tapers to a point Indistinct beak Average adult body length: 6.7-8 m (males) 5.7-6.6 m (females) Average body weight: 4-6.3 tons (males) 2.6-3.8 tons (females) Swimming Adaptations Geographical Distribution: Widely distributed in all oceans and most seas, from the coast to the very deepest waters Patchy distribution Able to live, reproduce and feed throughout the year in either warm or cool waters No regular patterns of migration Movements occur due to ice cover in high latitudes and food availability elsewhere Natural History: HABITAT: Adaptable to almost any conditions Generally prefers deep water but is found in shallow bays, inland seas, and estuaries FOOD & FEEDING: One of the most varried diets of all cetateans Prey include at least 24 species of cetaceans, five species of pinniped, dugong, 30 species of fish, seven species of bird and two specoes of squid, inaddition to a variety of other warm-blooded and cold-blooded sea creatures, such as turtles Feeding dives to depths of less than 100m Pods cooperate during a hunt Pods tend to specialize and frequently ignore potential prey LIFE CYCLE: Reproductive characteristics have not been firmly established Gestation lasts at least a year, perhaps several months longer Calves born in fall and winter Calves dependent for more than a year Calving interval averages more than 2 years BEHAVIOR: Breaching, lobtailing, flipper-slapping and spyhopping common Other behavior includes beach-rubbing, speed-swimming, logging and dorsal fin slapping Can travel at up to 34 mph (55 km/h) Travel in pods of 3-25 whales Two or more pods may come together to form superpods of 150 or more whales Members of pod stay together for life Groups of closely related pods (known as clans) develop their own unique dialects Highly inquisitive and approachable WORLD POPULATION: Total world population unknown 350 in Vancouver Island, Canada and Washington State 6618 in Iceland and Faeroese 289 in Shekilof Strait, Prince William Sound and southeastern Alaska total of 324 individuals in Alaska HUMAN INFLUENCES: Captured by commercial whalers on regular basis No fishery aimed at killer whalers has developed Subjected to control measures because of their extensive diets Bald Eagles The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), our national bird, is the only eagle unique to North America. The bald eagle's scientific name signifies a sea (halo) eagle (aeetos) with a white (leukos) head. At one time, the word "bald" meant "white," not hairless. The bald eagle is found over most of North American, from Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico. There are an estimated 50,000 bald eagles in the United States, with 80 percent of them found in Alaska. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing that the bald eagle be declared fully recovered, with final action due in July 2000. Even if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removes the bald eagle from the threatened and endangered species list, it will still be protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Not all eagles migrate. Those that do, have complex migratory patterns. While migrating, eagles ride columns of rising air called thermals and can average speeds of 30 mph (50 kilometers). Effortlessly, an eagle can circle in a strong thermal to high altitudes, then glide long distances in the direction of its migration until it finds the next column of rising air. Generally, the eagles follow seasonal food supplies. As lakes and streams freeze over, bald eagles must go south to find open fresh water or head to the coast.