In a landmark move, the bald eagle has been officially designated as the national bird of the United States, reflecting a long-standing emblematic relationship and honoring its legacy.
Bald Eagle Officially Declared America's National Bird After 250 Years
Bald Eagle Officially Declared America's National Bird After 250 Years
President Joe Biden signs historic legislation on Christmas Eve, solidifying the bald eagle's status as U.S. national bird.
The bald eagle is now firmly established as the national bird of the United States following President Joe Biden's signing of a bill on Christmas Eve. The decision comes 250 years after the bird first appeared on the Great Seal of the US in 1782, although it had not received formal recognition until this recent legislation. “For nearly 250 years, we called the bald eagle the national bird when it wasn’t,” stated Jack Davis, co-chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center. “But now the title is official, and no bird is more deserving.”
The eagle is depicted on the Great Seal, gripping a flag-emblazoned shield, with an olive branch and arrows, symbolizing peace and war. However, it wasn't always a unanimous choice. Benjamin Franklin famously critiqued the eagle, referring to it as a "bird of bad moral character." Despite Franklin's concerns, the majestic bird has represented strength, courage, freedom, and immortality for generations, especially as it is native only to North America.
The legislation, primarily championed by lawmakers from Minnesota—home to one of the largest bald eagle populations in the country—finally codifies this long-held belief. The bald eagle has also enjoyed legal protection under the National Emblem Act of 1940, which forbids the hunting or sale of the species. Once nearly extinct, the bald eagle's population has rebounded significantly since 2009.
This historic bill was part of a wider legislative package signed by President Biden, which included 50 new laws, among them a federal anti-hazing law aimed at reducing violence and fatalities in university settings. The declaration of the bald eagle as the national bird marks not only a symbolic victory but also a celebration of wildlife conservation efforts across the nation.
The eagle is depicted on the Great Seal, gripping a flag-emblazoned shield, with an olive branch and arrows, symbolizing peace and war. However, it wasn't always a unanimous choice. Benjamin Franklin famously critiqued the eagle, referring to it as a "bird of bad moral character." Despite Franklin's concerns, the majestic bird has represented strength, courage, freedom, and immortality for generations, especially as it is native only to North America.
The legislation, primarily championed by lawmakers from Minnesota—home to one of the largest bald eagle populations in the country—finally codifies this long-held belief. The bald eagle has also enjoyed legal protection under the National Emblem Act of 1940, which forbids the hunting or sale of the species. Once nearly extinct, the bald eagle's population has rebounded significantly since 2009.
This historic bill was part of a wider legislative package signed by President Biden, which included 50 new laws, among them a federal anti-hazing law aimed at reducing violence and fatalities in university settings. The declaration of the bald eagle as the national bird marks not only a symbolic victory but also a celebration of wildlife conservation efforts across the nation.
