America’s most important and symbolic bird, the eagle, will now be recognized as the official national bird. After the bill was passed by the House of Representatives on Monday, the bill has been sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.
Senator Amy Klobuchar tweeted on social media, “My bipartisan bill to recognize the eagle as the national bird has been passed by Congress and is now on the President’s desk. It will soon become law!” Interestingly, despite appearing on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, the eagle was never recognized as a legitimate national bird.
Representative Bad Finstadt cheered the bill’s passage, saying, “The eagle is a symbol of freedom, strength, and independence. The eagle appears on our coins, military uniforms, and government buildings. It is the undisputed symbol of America.” Angie Craig, along with Finstad, pushed the bill through the House of Representatives.
The bill was introduced in June by Amy Klobuchar and Senators Markwayne Mullin, Cynthia Loomis and Tina Smith. The Senate unanimously approved the bill in July. Senator Klobuchar commented on the importance of the eagle, saying, “The eagle is a symbol of freedom and strength.”
He also mentioned the state of Minnesota, “In Minnesota we have a special identity for eagles. It is home to one of the largest eagle populations in the country and the National Eagle Center is in Wabasha.”
The National Eagle Center also contributed significantly to this bill. Preston Cook, co-chairman of the Center’s National Bird Initiative, welcomed the bill’s passage, saying, “This is a historic day. This bill honors the historic role of the eagle and maintains its status as the national bird.”
There was once a great threat to the existence of the eagle. U.S. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, eagle numbers have declined due to environmental destruction, poaching and food poisoning. DDT, a poisonous pesticide, had a big hand in this.
However, thanks to decades of conservation efforts, eagle populations began to grow again. In 2007, the eagle was removed from the list of threatened and endangered species. This revival proved to be an extraordinary journey for Garuda.
Now this magnificent bird will be included among other national symbols of America. It includes the Great Seal of the United States and the American flag. The eagle’s rebirth and legal recognition will become an important part of America’s historical and cultural identity.