The United States Senate passed a bill to officially recognize the bald eagle as America's national bird

The United States Senate passed a bill that officially recognizes bald eagle as America's national bird. It was recognized after 200 years since it became the symbol of the country.

The American Bald Eagle:

The bald eagle has been the national bird of the United States since 1782, when it was placed with outspread wings on the Great Seal of our country. It appears in many government institutions and on official documents, making it the most pictured bird in all of America. The eagle appears on the president’s flag, the mace of the House of Representatives, military insignia, and billions of one-dollar bills. 

The bald eagle first appeared as an American symbol on a Massachusetts copper cent coined in 1776. Since then it has appeared on the reverse side of many U.S. coins, notably the silver dollar, halfdollar and quarter, as well as the gold coins which were christened the eagle, half eagle, quarter eagle, and double eagle. 

For six years, the members of Congress held a bitter dispute over what the national emblem should be. It wasn’t until 1789 that the bald eagle was finally chosen to represent the new nation. 

Bald eagles, like other eagles worldwide, had been seen by many as symbols of strength, courage, freedom and immortality for generations. And, unlike other eagles, the bald eagle was indigenous only to North America. Some eagles have become notable in American history. 

Today, the American bald eagle is protected under the National Emblem Act of 1940. Although once plentiful throughout the continental United States, the bald eagle population has greatly declined in recent times. Farmers and fishermen have killed many eagles for getting too close to their poultry or fishing nets; game keepers have captured them for falconry; and pesticides have killed many eagles. Most of the bald eagle population can now be found in northern regions of North America and Florida breeding sanctuaries. 

  1. PORTRAIT OF THEAMERICAN BALD EAGLE, US Army Corps of Engineers
  2. The American Bald Eagle - US Department of Veterans Affairs
  3. Bald Eagle - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
  4. The Times of India
  5. NDTV

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