The bald eagle is a symbol of the United States.
秃鹰是美国的象征。
An image of the bird is on the flag and seal of the U.S. President,
这只鸟的形象出现在美国总统的旗帜和印章上，
the seal of the U.S. Supreme Court, military insignia, as well as the dollar bill.
美国最高法院的印章、军事徽章以及美元钞票。
Even so, the bird has had its ups and downs.
即便如此，这只鸟也有起有落。
At one time, the bald eagle was at risk of permanent disappearance, or extinction.
曾经，秃鹰有永久消失或灭绝的危险。
Later, however, its numbers recovered.
然而，后来它的数量恢复了。
In the early 2000s, the federal government removed the bird from its endangered species list.
21世纪初，联邦政府将这种鸟从濒危物种名单中删除。
Culturally, too, the raptors are doing well again.
在文化上，猛禽也做得很好。
In December 2024, before leaving office, Joe Biden signed legislation officially making the bald eagle the national bird of the United States.
2024年12月，乔·拜登在卸任前签署立法，正式将秃鹰列为美国国鸟。
The bald eagle has a long, complex story of species weakness and recovery.
秃鹰有一个漫长而复杂的物种衰弱和恢复的故事。
An insect-killing chemical called DDT
一种叫DDT的杀虫剂
played a major part in that story.
在那个故事中扮演了重要角色。
DDT is a chemical used to kill insects.
滴滴涕是一种用来杀死昆虫的化学物质。
The substance also proved harmful to eagle eggs.
这种物质也被证明对鹰卵有害。
American officials banned DDT in 1972.
美国官员于1972年禁止使用滴滴涕。
But the use of the chemical had already caused severe damage to eagle populations.
但是这种化学物质的使用已经对鹰的种群造成了严重的损害。
For example, in the 1980s,
例如，在20世纪80年代，
there was only one nesting pair of eagles in the state of New Jersey.
新泽西州只有一对筑巢的鹰。
Now there are about 300 pairs.
现在大约有300双。
To rebuild the number of eagles across the U.S.,
为了重建美国鹰的数量，
researchers wanting to save them
研究人员想要拯救它们
imported the birds from places where their population numbers were secure, including Canada.
从包括加拿大在内的人口数量安全的地方进口鸟类。
Early on, they also removed eggs from their nests
早期，它们也从巢穴中取出卵
so they could safely hatch with scientists
这样它们就可以和科学家一起安全孵化了
before being returned to their parents to raise,
在被送回父母身边抚养之前，
explained Kathy Clark.
凯西·克拉克解释道。
She is the head of New Jersey's Endangered and Non-Game Species Program.
她是新泽西濒危和非游戏物种项目的负责人。
Clark has worked with the birds for many years.
克拉克已经和这些鸟一起工作很多年了。
This includes the time when New Jersey had very few bald eagles,
这包括新泽西州秃鹰很少的时候，
and they only lived in areas far from people.
他们只生活在远离人类的地区。
Clark said that she will always remember that feeling of not knowing if the species will survive.
克拉克说，她将永远记得那种不知道该物种能否生存的感觉。
Maia Edwards is the science director
玛娅·爱德华兹是科学主管
at the American Bald Eagle Foundation in Alaska.
在阿拉斯加的美国秃鹰基金会。
She says the species represents
她说这个物种代表着
one of the few conservation success stories of animals that came close to disappearing permanently from America.
为数不多的几近从美国永久消失的动物保护成功故事之一。
"I think now it's really important to make sure people know that story and learn from it", she said.
“我认为现在确保人们了解这个故事并从中学习真的很重要，”她说。
Clark said the eagles have taught officials some lessons.
克拉克说老鹰给官员们上了一些课。
One is that the raptors
一个是猛禽
are good at changing to fit their environment.
善于改变以适应他们的环境。
The birds now live in parts of New Jersey that are dense with people.
这些鸟现在生活在新泽西人口密集的地区。
But the birds still face dangers in such areas.
但是鸟类在这些地区仍然面临危险。
Jillian Fazio is director of the Essex County Turtleback Zoo, in northern New Jersey.
吉利安·法齐奥是新泽西州北部埃塞克斯县龟龟动物园的主任。
She said the zoo rescues a number of birds hit by cars.
她说动物园营救了一些被汽车撞到的鸟。
The zoo is also home to Freedom, a bald eagle named by the caretakers.
动物园也是管理员命名的秃鹰自由的家。
Freedom was rescued hanging from a tree in Minnesota after he got caught in some rope.
自由号在明尼苏达州被绳子缠住后被吊在树上获救。
He was injured so badly that he cannot be returned to the wild, Fazio said.
法齐奥说，他伤得很重，不能回到野外。
A lack of eagle habitat and prey also threatens the species.
缺乏鹰的栖息地和猎物也威胁着这个物种。
Bald eagles feed heavily on fish,
秃鹰大量吃鱼，
so they require clean, open water in which to hunt.
所以它们需要干净、开放的水域来捕猎。
Disease outbreaks, such as avian influenza or bird flu,
疾病爆发，如禽流感或禽流感，
are another serious threat to the birds.
是对鸟类的另一个严重威胁。
The birds are highly respected by several Native American cultures
这些鸟受到一些美洲土著文化的高度尊重
as symbols of strength,
作为力量的象征，
especially in the Pacific Northwest,
尤其是在太平洋西北部，
says Paul Apodaca.
保罗·阿波达卡说。
He is a retired university professor who specializes in stories and storytelling from different cultures.
他是一位退休的大学教授，专门研究来自不同文化的故事和讲故事。
The position of eagles as symbols of the U.S. adds to their protection.
鹰作为美国象征的地位增加了对它们的保护。
Americans are always going to have that sort of personal relationship with bald eagles,
美国人总是会和秃鹰有那种个人关系，
said Clark, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection official.
新泽西州环境保护部官员克拉克说。
Dan Day is a birder.
丹·戴是一名观鸟者。
He has seen bald eagles about 50 times in recent years,
近年来，他看了大约50次秃鹰，
both on nature walks and while driving around.
无论是在自然散步还是开车。
He said, it really elevates your day to see a bald eagle.
他说，看到秃鹰真的会让你开心。
I'm Ana Mateo.
我是安娜·马特奥。