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can live up to 32 years in the wild. Courtship begins with playful banter including chases, dives, mock attacks, showing off talons, soaring together, and circling. Once mated, the mature female will lay 1-4 eggs between February and August depending on geographical location. The female, much larger than the male, takes on the primary responsibility of incubating the eggs for about 45 days while the male primarily hunts and gathers food. Occasionally, they will reverse roles. The eggs are laid three to four days apart and hatch respectively. Because the first born often eat the future born siblings, it is common for the first born to be the only eaglet to survive and leave the nest.

Eagles will build one to several nests and can use them to alternate breeding each season. A nest is a work-in-progress for years. Structured from twigs and roots and lined with dry yucca, moss, bark, and other soft materials, the nest is generally built on a solid foundation such as a cliff or other strong surface capable of supporting the weight. Upon completion of a nest, it can be as large as 8-10' across and 4' deep. The largest recorded nest measures 6.1 m tall and 2.59 m wide, approximately 20' x 8 1/2'.

The eagles are generally quiet except during the mating season. They have nine calls for communicating, most of which appear to be about food for the nestlings, and the nestlings begging for food.

Both a blessing and a curse, the tenacity, fortitude, and majestic presence of the golden eagle has historically made it a cultural symbol as well as a target for mankind.

It is Mexico's national bird and presides on their flag. It's name and face are used for mascots and company logos. But, the golden eagle is probably most symbolized in Native American religion. Native American tradition uses the feathers of the golden eagle and ONLY the golden eagle, symbolically, to embellish their handcrafted headdresses and bustles. To Native Americans, the eagle possesses courage and wisdom. He is considered a protector, a carrier of prayers, a special connection to the creator and is symbolic with visions and spirits.

With the good comes the bad. In the wild, the eagle's only recorded rivals are grizzly bears and wolverines, and the recordings are only for the nestlings. But, it is believed, prior to 1962, over 20,000 golden eagles were humanly killed by different means for their feathers, to protect livestock, and by accident. This prompted the golden eagle to become a protected species in

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