President Joe Biden has signed legislation officially designating the bald eagle as the United States’ national bird, formalizing a role the species has symbolically held since 1782 when it first appeared on the Great Seal of the United States.
The legislation, led by Minnesota lawmakers and recently passed by Congress, gives official recognition to the bird that has long served as a national emblem. “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 for the National Eagle Center.
The bird’s selection as a national symbol has historical controversy. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin opposed the choice, describing the bald eagle as a “bird of bad moral character.” However, many valued the species for its unique status as a North American native and its traditional associations with strength, courage, freedom, and immortality, according to the US Department of Veteran Affairs.
The bald eagle already enjoys federal protection under the National Emblem Act of 1940, which prohibits hunting or selling the birds. While the species once faced extinction, its population has significantly recovered since 2009. Minnesota, which led the legislative effort, hosts one of the nation’s largest bald eagle populations, according to Senator Amy Klobuchar.
The bald eagle designation was among 50 pieces of legislation signed by Biden on Christmas Eve, including a federal anti-hazing law addressing violence on university campuses.
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