The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 bestows legal protection on two North American eagle species in the United States of America. The Act was originally aimed at the legal protection of only one species: the Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus, the national symbol of the USA. Many Factors Led to the Recovery of the Bald Eagle, while the ESA likely did more harm than good 1) Contrary to claims by a number of prominent ESA boosters, the bald eagle was never The Act was originally aimed at the legal protection of only one species: the Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus, the national symbol of the USA.Later the Act was amended to extend protection also to the Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos. THE PROTECTION OF EAGLES AND THE BALD AND GOLDEN EAGLE PROTECTION ACT JoDY GUSTITUS MILLAR U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4469-48th Avenue Court, Rock Island, IL 61201 U.S.A. ABSTRACT.-•The Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 (16 USC 668-668d) was passed to curb the wanton destruction of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 bestows legal protection on two North American eagle species in the United States of America. For a topical American example, see the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 (16 . Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act in 1940 in response to declining populations of the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leuco-cephalus) in the early 1900s.The Act was later amended in 1962 to include protections for the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). 668-668c) prohibits anyone from taking, possessing, or transporting a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) or golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), or the parts, nests, or eggs of such birds without prior authorization. Later the Act was amended to extend protection also to the Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos. The Bald and Golden Eagle Act (16 U.S.C. Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act; Religious Use of Feathers A Proposed Rule by the Fish and Wildlife Service on 04/30/2019 Document Details bald eagle commonly known as the American eagle, or any golden eagle, alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof of the foregoing eagles, or whoever violates any permit or regulation issued pursuant to this Act, shall be fined not more than $ 5,000 or imprisoned not more than one regulations—the “teeth” that make the law so broadly powerful—to the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act). The Bald Eagle will continue to be protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act even though it has been delisted under the Endangered Species Act..