Biden Declares Bald Eagle as National Bird After 242 Years

Rahul Somvanshi

Photo Source: The Biden White House (CC0 1.0)

President Joe Biden approved a law on December 24, 2023. It was announced that a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is declared to be the national bird of the United States.text

Preston Cook is the MN resident who authored this historic legislation, as he is the original drafter of the bill.

Photo Source: Freerange (CC0 1.0)

Photo Source: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II (CC BY 2.0)

The bill was approved by both chambers without objection and led by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

Photo Source: Picryl (PDM 1.0.)

This bird of prey has graced military seals, presidential seal flags, and US money since 1782, but was only just today incorporated into the U.S. Code.

Photo Source: Wally Gobetz (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Founding father Benjamin Franklin famously said the national symbol shouldn't be an eagle as it is "a bird of bad moral character"; instead, Franklin wanted a turkey as a national bird.

Photo Source: Animalia (CC BY 4.0)

Bald eagle population, whose restoration became an effective management strategy and proof that legislation can indeed influence environmental policy.

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New legislation amends title 36 of the U.S. Code, naming the bald eagle as officially adopted the national bird.

Photo Source: Freerange (CC0 1.0)

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's 2020 report reveals the bald eagle population stands at 316,700 individuals, with 71,400 nesting pairs.