President Joe Biden has signed legislation officially designating the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States.
The law, enacted on Christmas Eve, solidifies the iconic bird’s symbolic status nearly 250 years after it first appeared on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782.
“For nearly 250 years, we called the bald eagle the national bird when it wasn’t,” said Jack Davis, co-chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Centre. “But now the title is official, and no bird is more deserving.”
While the bald eagle has long been a symbol of strength, freedom, and courage, not everyone in early American history agreed with its national status.
Founding Father Benjamin Franklin criticised the bird, describing it as a “bird of bad moral character.”
However, Congress chose the bald eagle for its majestic qualities and its indigenous status, unique to North America.
The legislation was championed by lawmakers from Minnesota, a state with one of the largest bald eagle populations. Senator Amy Klobuchar praised the bill, calling it a recognition of the bird’s resilience after being on the brink of extinction.
The bald eagle has been protected since 1940 under the National Emblem Act, which prohibits hunting or selling the species. Its population has significantly rebounded in recent decades, particularly since 2009.
The designation was part of a flurry of activity on Christmas Eve, with Biden signing 50 bills into law, including an anti-hazing law to address violence on university campuses.
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