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The bald eagle, a long-time American emblem, is now officially the U.S. national bird. President Biden signed legislation confirming its status, honouring its historic significance on the Great Seal and U.S. currency.
The bald eagle has appeared on the Great Seal of the United States, which is used in official documents, since 1782.
UPDATED: Dec 25, 2024 23:44 IST
The bald eagle, a symbol of the United States' power and strength for more than 240 years, is now officially the national bird of the country.
President Joe Biden signed into law legislation that amends the United States Code to correct what had long gone unnoticed and designate the bald eagle — familiar to many because of its white head, yellow beak and brown body — as the national bird.
The bald eagle has been a national emblem in the US for years, appearing on the Great Seal of the US - used on US documents - since 1782. The bald eagle is indigenous to North America. The Great Seal of the United States is a national symbol used in official documents such as treaties and commissions. The final design was approved in 1782 and includes a bald eagle, an olive branch, arrows, a flag-like shield, the motto E Pluribus Unum (which translates to "out of many, one") and a constellation of stars. Congress that same year designated the bald eagle as the national emblem, and its image appears in a host of places, ranging from documents and the presidential flag to military insignia and U.S. currency, according to USA.gov.
"For nearly 250 years, we called the bald eagle the national bird when it wasn't," said Jack Davis, co-chair of the Bird Initiative for the Eagle Center, in a statement. "But now the title is official, and no bird is more deserving."
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. The bald eagle is also protected under the Emblem Act of 1940, which makes it illegal to sell or hunt the creature.
(With input from AP)
Published By:
indiatodayglobal
Published On:
Dec 25, 2024
