I think the discussions on this thread are both constructive and point to reasonable problems with the solutions proposed as well.
To dissect the points mentioned in pieces:
1. Totally agree with L. Brown about management of SPECIES and not individuals of an ecosystem. I am a licensed raptor rehabillitator as my nom de plume perhaps suggests. The rehabillitation of one raptor is inconsequential to the wild population and it's habitat (the two are inseparable), but it is of major impact to the person who discovers the injured wildlife, brings it in and finds new appreciation for its value in the ecosystem. Rehabillitation is positive PR, but it makes no positive impact to the wild populations.
2. Bald eagles are of NO RISK in the wild ecosystem. Dare I say, they are now at nuisance levels in some areas and in only 25 years time, we went from seriously endangered levels to having more Bald Eagles in North America than at any previous time in recorded history. Pretty awesome when you think about it.
3. The real birds of issue as a species that are directly culpable to hunters with bad habits (in part) are the Western raptors that feed on ground squirrels and prarie dogs. Golden Eagles and Ferruginous Hawks being two indicator species that feast on piles of lead riddled quarry only to become deathly ill a few days later. The science is settled on Man's cause of these birds demise due to lead isotope analysis proving the lead ingested by raptors is alloyed lead refined for use in bullets and shot. Sloppy hunters will be our own undoing.
4. Golden Eagles are in a position over the long term for more perilous survivability than are Bald Eagles. Bald Eagles are opportunistic and adaptable to changing ecosystems and can live on fish or waterfowl with eagle acumen almost anywhere in America.
5. I agree with the points of unintended consequences. I generally am a free-market minded person with libertarian leanings...Many hunters are. The one benefit of government regulation forcing our hands towards non-toxic shot and copper bullets is that the increased prices will cause more cautious shot placement and more thoughtful hunting. Do I think there will be more detrimental consequences? Yes. It will probably price many hunters out of their sport altogether when 20 rifle cartridges cost $60 for copper bulleted varieties.
In conclusion, while the problems are many and the solutions are complex, one thing prevails upon us as hunters:
If we clean up our gut piles and carcasses removing them from the field, we individually will not be part of the problem. On the whole, hunters and sportsmen are the most conservation minded people on the planet. We need to self-regulate and encourage positive habits so the bureaucrats don't step in and crush us with laws that could have been enforced by good etiquette amongst hunters instead.