In 1782 the bald eagle was placed on the Great Seal of the United States and Americans just assumed it was our national bird − wrongly it turned out. While the U.S. had a national mammal (bison) and even a national tree (oak), there was no official national bird until a few weeks ago, when the eagle officially landed. It has not been an easy road.

Bald eagles are experiencing a remarkable resurgence in the United States, marking a dramatic turnaround from their near-extinction in the late 20th century.

The bald eagle officially became the symbol of the U.S. after centuries of being recognized as one. The bald eagle’s flight to becoming the official national bird ended when

The bald eagle, once teetering on the brink of extinction, has made a significant comeback in the United States. Long a symbol of national pride, the raptor is experiencing a resurgence both in population and cultural significance.

The eagles find themselves in an environmental updraft since the early 2000s. Culturally, too, the animals are soaring.