President Joe Biden has officially signed into law legislation formally designating the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States, correcting an oversight that had persisted for over two centuries.
- While widely regarded as the symbol of American strength and power since its adoption in 1782 as part of the Great Seal, the bald eagle had never been officially codified as the national bird until now.
Key Points:
- Historical Symbolism:
- The bald eagle, with its white head, yellow beak, and brown body, has been a prominent symbol of the United States for over 240 years.
- It appears on the Great Seal of the United States, which features the eagle holding an olive branch and arrows, a shield, the motto “E Pluribus Unum”, and a constellation of stars.
- Past Assumptions:
- Although Congress designated the bald eagle as the national emblem in 1782, it had never been explicitly declared the national bird in U.S. law.
- Conservation Efforts:
- The bald eagle is indigenous to North America and is protected under the National Emblem Act of 1940, which prohibits hunting or selling the species.
- Once on the brink of extinction, the population of bald eagles has significantly rebounded, particularly since 2009, thanks to conservation measures.
- Legislative Action:
- The newly signed legislation amends the United States Code to recognize the bald eagle officially as the national bird.
