You might be surprised by when the bald eagle became our national bird

The bald eagle, a long-standing symbol of American strength since the Revolutionary War, was officially declared the national bird on Christmas Eve 2024 by President Joe Biden. Although it has been emblematic in U.S. currency and the Great Seal for centuries, legislation was needed to formalize its status. Jack Davis from the National Eagle Center noted the significance of this decision, affirming that after nearly 250 years, the title is formally recognized. Conservation measures like the Bald Eagle Protection Act have contributed to the species' recovery, leading to its removal from the endangered species list in 2007.

"For nearly 250 years, we called the bald eagle the national bird when it wasn't. But now the title is official, and no bird is more deserving."

"The bald eagle was voted our national seal in 1782. To help preserve the bird's declining numbers, Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act in 1940."

Read at The Mercury News