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       Fox News Flash top headlines for March 1 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

       The owner of a large Texas farm pleaded guilty this past week to a misdemeanor in the poisoning death of a federally protected bald eagle.

       Leonard Cornelius, 35, of Bay City, was sentenced to one year of probation after entering the plea Wednesday before a judge in Corpus Christi Federal Court.

       He was also ordered to pay nearly $12,000 in restitution to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, KIII-TV reported.

       Cornelius faced up to a year in jail.

       EGGS OF 2 CALIFORNIA BALD EAGLES LIKELY WON'T HATCH, U.S. FOREST SERVICE SAYS

       "Our client has accepted responsibility for inadvertently causing the death of an eagle, while trying to protect his crops and his ability to make a living as farmer," attorney Zachary Fertitta told Fox News. "My client is an ardent Patriot and would never purposely harm any symbol of American freedom."

       The case against him involved the death of the bald eagle on his farm in 2018.

       U.S. Fish and Wildlife agents had responded and approached Cornelius who admitted mixing approximately 30 pounds of corn with Bidrin 8, a restricted-use pesticide, and spreading it over his fields to get rid of pesky birds, court records showed.

       Stunning bald eagle photo becomes viral sensation

       An incredible photo of a bald eagle is taking the internet by storm. The remarkable photo was captured by amateur photographer Steve Biro at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Norfolk County, Ontario. In the photo the bird's wingtip feathers gently touch the water as it looks intently ahead, while its reflection can be seen in the water below. The bald eagle, known as Bruce, is now something of a social media star.

       BALD EAGLE RESCUED IN MISSOURI AFTER BEING SHOT IN WING; SHOOTER COULD FACE $100G FINE

       "He acknowledged seeing dead birds and several dead hogs in the area after he spread the poison," the court papers added.

       "Under the supervision of the agents, Cornelius removed the remaining poisoned corn from the fields."

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       A lab analysis confirmed the bald eagle's death by organophosphate poisoning, the court papers said.

       The bald eagle no longer has been an endangered species but has remained protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.