Non-fiction: America's Bird Soars
America's Bird Soars
1.
The bald eagle1 is flying high! This
majestic bird has clawed its way back from the
edge2 of extinction, or dying out.
2.
About 40 years ago, the number of bald
eagles in the United States was declining rapidly.
Today, however, the bald eagle is returning to
the skies. Wildlife3 officials hope to remove the
bird from the list of threatened4 species by the
end of the year.
Trouble Ahead
3.
In the early 1700s, bald eagles were a
common sight. There were about half a million
of those birds living in the United States.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Bald eagle
4. Over time, their population 5fell
dramatically. In the early 1960s, very few bald
eagles remained.
5.
What caused the number to drop? Hunting6 and the use of
harmful chemicals sprayed on crops were largely to blame. Those chemicals
poisoned7 the birds and their eggs.
6.
Pollution also contributed to the problem. Bald eagles often
became sick after eating fish from polluted waters.
7.
In addition, the bald eagles' habitat was being destroyed as
people cut down trees to build roads and homes. A habitat is a place in
nature where an animal makes its home.
Population Boom
8.
Although some threats still exist, the future looks hopeful for
bald eagles. Today, there are about 20,000 bald eagles living in the United
States. Thanks to laws that helped protect bald eagles and banned
harmful chemicals, the birds are making a comeback.
1
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Non-fiction: America's Bird Soars
9.
Conservation, or protection, efforts have helped their survival.
"There is no doubt that it is the single best conservation story the United
States has had," bald eagle expert Bryan Watts told Weekly Reader.
A National Symbol
10. In 1782, the bald eagle was made the national bird of the United
States. The nation's founders8 chose the bird because it symbolized
freedom, strength, and courage. At the time, some people disagreed about
the choice for the national bird. Benjamin Franklin, for example, thought the
turkey would make a better choice because it was "a much more respectable
bird."
1
Bald eagle: Aguila calva
Edge: al borde
3
Wildlife: vida salvaje
4
Threatened: amenazada
5
Fell: cayó
6
Hunting: cacería
7
Poisoned: envenenaron
8
Founders: fundadores
2
2
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.