An Elegy for America’s Oldest Bald Eagle

Photo: courtesy of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

At age 38, Eagle #629-03124 has died after being struck by a car. This bird had the remarkable distinction of being the oldest banded Bald Eagle in the country–and I wrote an article for Audubon about his extraordinary life.

The piece was later picked up by io9. This was the first time I’d ever stumbled across a repost of one of my pieces “in the wild,” so to speak, and it was thrilling.

Rest in Peace, Eagle #629-03124. On this July 4th, a day of deep patriotic fervor, let us not forget how close this iconic species came to total extinction.