After 250 years of informal recognition, the bald eagle is now the official national bird of the United States, following the signing of a new law by President Joe Biden.
Bald Eagle Receives Official Designation as National Bird of the US
Bald Eagle Receives Official Designation as National Bird of the US
Nation celebrates as legislation recognizing the bald eagle as the national bird finally passed.
The bald eagle has long held a prominent place in American symbolism, appearing on the Great Seal of the United States since 1782. However, it wasn't until recently that it was formally designated as the national bird after Congress passed a bill in what many see as a long-overdue recognition. "For nearly 250 years, we called the bald eagle the national bird when it wasn't," noted Jack Davis, co-chair of the National Bird Initiative from the National Eagle Center, highlighting the significance of this legislative milestone.
The decision to recognize the bald eagle formally comes despite historical opposition from figures like Benjamin Franklin, who famously critiqued the bird's character. Nevertheless, the eagle has remained a beloved symbol of power, freedom, and resilience throughout the nation’s history.
Minnesota legislators advocated for the designation, underscoring the state's significant population of bald eagles. The bird, indigenous to North America, enjoys protective status under the National Emblem Act of 1940, making it illegal to hunt or sell them. A recovery in their numbers since a period of endangerment has further solidified their place in American lore. Along with this historic measure, President Biden also enacted various other laws on Christmas Eve, including a federal anti-hazing law aimed at improving campus safety.
The decision to recognize the bald eagle formally comes despite historical opposition from figures like Benjamin Franklin, who famously critiqued the bird's character. Nevertheless, the eagle has remained a beloved symbol of power, freedom, and resilience throughout the nation’s history.
Minnesota legislators advocated for the designation, underscoring the state's significant population of bald eagles. The bird, indigenous to North America, enjoys protective status under the National Emblem Act of 1940, making it illegal to hunt or sell them. A recovery in their numbers since a period of endangerment has further solidified their place in American lore. Along with this historic measure, President Biden also enacted various other laws on Christmas Eve, including a federal anti-hazing law aimed at improving campus safety.
