Includes bibliographical references (p. [308]-309) and index.

With Eagle's Plume, Bruce E. Beans recounts the compelling, centuries-old story of the bald eagle's place in American culture and landscape and its struggle for survival. With the destruction of its habitat and the devastating effects of modern pesticides, the population of bald eagles declined perilously throughout most of the country. The threat of losing our national symbol rallied federal and environmental groups and local communities to change their attitudes about the delicate ecosystem in which we live. Rich with detail, Eagle's Plume chronicles the remarkable scientific detective work and the shift in national consciousness that led to the 1972 ban of DDT. Beans also brings to life the extraordinary efforts to save the bald eagle, and the people behind those efforts - from biologists and federal enforcement officials to environmental activists and dedicated citizens. Eagle's Plume also introduces us to the bird itself. Informed by ancient folklore and Native-American mythology, the author paints a nuanced portrait of these majestic birds: where and how they nest, their breeding and feeding habits, their migratory wanderings. Bruce E. Beans gives us a tale that is woven into this nation's past and our environment's future. Eagle's Plume is a striking reminder of our heritage and our responsibility to the natural world