The bald eagle, a symbol of the United States’ power and strength for more than 240 years, is now officially the national bird of the country.
President Joe Biden signed into law legislation that amends the United States Code to correct what had long gone unnoticed and designate the bald eagle as the national bird.
The bald eagle has been a national emblem in the U.S. for years, appearing on the Great Seal of the U.S. since 1782. The final design was approved in 1782 and includes a bald eagle, an olive branch, arrows, a flag-like shield, the motto “E Pluribus Unum” (which translates to “out of many, one”) and a constellation of stars.
For nearly 250 years, the bald eagle had been informally recognized as the national bird, but it had never been officially designated as such until now. The legislation was spearheaded by Minnesota lawmakers, and the state is home to 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.
The bird has been a national emblem in the U.S. for years, appearing on coins, bills, and various official documents.
Founding Father Benjamin Franklin objected to the bald eagle being chosen to represent the country, calling it a “bird of bad moral character,” but Congress disagreed. The bald eagle is indigenous to North America and has been a symbol of strength, courage, freedom, and immortality for generations.
The legislation designating the bald eagle as the national bird was one of 50 pieces of legislation that Biden signed into law on Christmas Eve, including a federal anti-hazing law to tackle violence and deaths on university campuses.
The bird has been a national emblem in the U.S. for years, but it never had an official status in the country’s 248-year history.
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