Most everyone recognizes the Bald Eagle as America’s national bird. It first appeared in 1782 on the Great Seal, a symbol of American strength and sovereignty as a nation. But the fact is that it just officially became our national bird on Christmas Eve 2024, when President Biden signed a bipartisan bill designating the Bald Eagle as the official bird of the United States. We can all heartily endorse this acknowledgment, notwithstanding one of our forefather’s objections—Ben Franklin thought the Bald Eagle was “a bird of bad moral character” since it is known to steal food from other birds. Franklin preferred instead the Wild Turkey. It is a respectable native, of course, but somehow it just wouldn’t convey the same image… For more details, click here.
