The bald eagle is now officially the national bird of the US, after President Joe Biden signed a law on Christmas Eve bestowing the honour upon the white-headed and yellow-beaked bird of prey.
“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 Center, in a statement.
The legislation designating the bald eagle as the national bird was spearheaded by Minnesota lawmakers.
The state is home to what Senator Amy Klobuchar described as one of the nation’s largest bald eagle populations.
The bald eagle is also protected under the National Emblem Act of 1940, which makes it illegal to sell or hunt the creature.
President Joe Biden signed legislation on Christmas Eve designating the white-headed and yellow-beaked raptor as the official national bird of the United States.
Since its appearance on the US Great Seal, which is used on US documents, in 1782, the bird has served as a national emblem for the United States for many years.
But only last week, after Congress passed the bill and sent it to Biden’s desk for his signature, was it formally named the national bird.
Jack Davis, co-chair of the National Eagle Center’s National Bird Initiative, said in a statement, “We called the bald eagle the national bird for nearly 250 years when it wasn’t.”. “However, no bird is more worthy now that the title is official. “..”.
There hasn’t always been consensus regarding the bald eagle’s national status.
The creature was deemed a “bird of bad moral character” by founding father Benjamin Franklin, who objected to its selection as the nation’s symbol.
Not every member of Congress, however, agreed with Franklin.
According to the US Department of Veteran Affairs, bald eagles, like other eagles around the world, have long been regarded by many as representations of bravery, strength, freedom, and immortality. Furthermore, the bald eagle was unique to North America, unlike other eagles.
Legislators from Minnesota led the charge to establish the bald eagle as the nation’s national bird. Senator Amy Klobuchar said that the state has one of the biggest bald eagle populations in the country.
The 1940 National Emblem Act also protects the bald eagle by outlawing its hunting and sale.
The population has significantly grown since 2009, although the birds were once in danger of going extinct.
A federal anti-hazing law to address violence and fatalities on college campuses was among the 50 pieces of legislation signed into law by Biden on Christmas Eve, including the bald eagle bill.
