Dec 24, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Bald eagle officially U.S. national bird after Biden signs bill into law

Rebecca Falconer

A female bald eagle known as La'i, which has nested in a tree near the Santa Ana River for seven years, sits in her nest to tend to her two eaglets that hatched recently in northern Orange County Wednesday, March 27, 2024. — A bald eagle tends to her two eaglets in northern Orange County, California, in March. Photo: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The bald eagle is now officially the national bird of the U.S. after President Biden signed into law legislation amending a code to formally recognize the previously unofficial American emblem.

Why it matters: "The Bald Eagle has symbolized American ideals since its placement on the Great Seal in 1782," per a statement from Preston Cook, co-chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center, after Congress passed earlier this month the bill that was sent to Biden's desk.

"With this legislation, we honor its historic role and solidify its place as our national bird and an emblem of our national identity," added Cook, who spearheaded the legislative effort with Minnesota Reps. Brad Finstad (R) and Angie Craig (D) and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

Zoom out: The bill officially recognizing the bird of prey was among some 50 bills Biden signed into law on Christmas Eve.

The big picture: The bald eagle has unofficially been the national bird since its appearance on the Great Seal, which symbolizes the sovereignty of the U.S. as a nation.

The bird also features on the president's flag, the mace of the House of Representatives, military insignia and "billions of one-dollar bills," per a Department of Veterans Affairs post.

However, it had never been legally designated as the country's national bird until now.

Fun fact: Founding father Benjamin Franklin objected to the bald eagle's appearance in a letter to his daughter describing it as "a bird of bad moral character," per the Franklin Institute.

Go deeper: U.S. bald eagle population has quadrupled since 2009

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Bald eagle officially U.S. national bird after Biden signs bill into law

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