Long an unofficial symbol, bald eagle becomes official US bird

After long being an unofficial symbol, the white head, yellow beak bald eagle became the official U.S. bird on Christmas Eve.

President Biden signed 50 bills into law Tuesday. Among them was Senate bill 4610, legislation amending Title 36 of the U.S. Code to designate the predator as the national bird.

The bill was originally brought to the Senate floor in July. The legislation passed unanimously and cruised through the lower chamber in December without any opposition.

“The bald eagle is a symbol of our country’s freedom and strength. In Minnesota, we know a thing or two about eagles: We are home to one of the largest populations of bald eagles in the country as well as the National Eagle Center in Wabasha,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), one of the bill’s sponsor’s in the upper chamber, said earlier this month.

“With the passage of our legislation, the bald eagle will now officially be recognized as our nation's national bird,” she added.

The bald eagle was adopted as the Coat of Arms for the United States Great Seal in June 1782. It is also the leading insignia for all U.S. military branches. The bald eagle has appeared on currency, public buildings, flags, documents and sports teams.

Minnesota resident Preston Cook has long pushed lawmakers to designate the bald eagle as the country’s official bird. He even penned a draft of the legislation that he sent to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Preston lives in Wabasha, Minn., home of the National Eagle Center. This week, his effort paid off.

“This is an exciting day. The Bald Eagle has symbolized American ideals since its placement on the Great Seal in 1782. With this legislation, we honor its historic role and solidify its place as our national bird and an emblem of our national identity,” Cook, the author of the book “American Eagle: A Visual History of Our National Emblem,” said in mid-December.

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