Just in time for the Fourth of July weekend, Pres. Clinton today will announce that the feds want to take the bald eagle off the endangered species list. The eagle has made a strong recovery since 1963, when only 417 pairs were found in the 48 contiguous states. Last year, biologists counted some 5,748 pairs, and the birds are even settling in suburban areas. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will study the eagle for a year in hopes of officially removing it from the endangered species list on July 4, 2000. Though federal and state laws would still protect the eagles and their eggs, some conservationists are concerned that the move may be coming too soon.
