LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The bald eagle has officially been named the national bird of the United States.
The eagle has long been an historic symbol of the nation, but on Christmas Eve, President Joe Biden made it official with the signing of a bipartisan bill. The majestic bird has appeared on the Great Seal of the U.S. since 1782 but has never legally been recognized as the national bird until now.
MORE NEWS: Benton Harbor Sees a 22% Drop in its Income Tax Collection in 2024
The bird boasts a distinctive brown body, white head and yellow beak, and eagle numbers have made a comeback in recent years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in the mid-1900s, the bald eagle’s existence became threatened by habitat destruction, illegal shooting and insecticides.
The 1940 Bald Eagle Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 helped protect the bald eagle population by listing them as endangered in all 48 states except in Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. In those states, eagles were designated as threatened.
By 1998, the bald eagle population recovered enough to change its status to threatened. A Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 2023 survey found approximately 900 breeding pairs, up from 359 breeding pairs in 2020 and 83 in 1980.
Leave a Comment
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.