On June 20, the United States’ national symbol National American Eagle Day is celebrated. On this day people try to raise awareness about the bald eagle and preserve the bird’s natural habitat. The holiday is meant to educate others about the birds’ significance, and to analyze ways we can guarantee that the eagles continue to thrive in coming decades.
The bald eagle was at serious risk of becoming extinct, in the 1950s. Hunting, loss of their natural habitat, and the use of pesticides that harmed their eggs provoked the population to massively decrease. In 1967, the bird was classified as endangered in the United States. After Endangered Species Act, the bald eagle began to repopulate and thrive, the bird became a prime success story of the above Act. It was moved from the national endangered species list to the national list of threatened species, in 1995. This was a major improvement. Since 2007, the bald eagle is no longer regarded as threatened and has a healthy population level.
The American Eagle Foundation launched National American Eagle Day, this is a Tennessee organization concentrated on protecting bald eagles and their fellow birds of prey. As bald eagles mostly eat fish, they like to live near large bodies of water and are known for their grace and beauty when they fly through the air. Since the 1700s, they have been known as treasured symbols of the United States.
Timeline of National American Eagle Day
1782 (A Healthy Population of Eagles) – There were 100,000 nesting eagles in the country when the bald eagle was adopted by America as the national symbol.
1940 (Threatened with Extinction) – Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act, forbidding the killing and selling of the species.
1962 (The Golden Eagle) – Congress amended the Act, extending the prohibition to include the golden eagle, becoming the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act [BEPA].
2007 (No Longer Endangered) – Since this year, the bald eagle is no longer regarded as threatened and has a healthy population level.
Calculate days from today here
How to Celebrate National American Eagle Day?
Watch the DC Eagle Cam – The DC Eagle Cam is a live stream that lets anyone in the world take a peek into the lives of two bald eagles living in the United States National Arboretum in Washington DC. A video camera set on the eagles’ nest offers snapshots of their lives.
Visit the zoo – National American Eagle Day is the perfect time to pay a visit and watch bald eagles in action if your local zoo is home to them. The National Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, and the Saint Louis Zoo all house bald eagles – and it is quite possible that a zoo in your area does the same.
Do some volunteer work for preservation groups – Try to find local preservation groups in your area and offer them a helping hand. Your help can make a difference whether you assist a charity that advocates for bald eagles, or an organization that is concentrated on other species that are still endangered. To get started, check out the American Eagle Foundation.
Why National American Eagle Day is Significant?
They are epic – The majority of Americans recognize the image of the bald eagle right away, but few of us know what role eagles play in our natural ecosystem and how the eagles live. The American bald eagle can be found all over the continent, from Alaska to Northern Mexico, because it is the only eagle unique to North America. Bald eagles are also one of the largest birds in North America, with a wingspan of 80 inches. They build massive nests that are five to six feet in diameter.
They are champions of endangered species – The future of the bald eagle seemed dire not too long ago. Owing to the hard work of conservationists, and the birds’ classification as endangered species, stress over their extinction is a thing of the past. It is a great reminder that with determination and awareness, we can protect endangered species that need preservation. Maybe Bengal tigers, black rhinos, and other endangered species can have similar success stories eventually.
They are absolutely patriotic – In 1782, the bald eagle was named the National Emblem of the United States, and its image is used all over the country as a symbol of this great nation. The picture of the bald eagle can be found on gold coins, the silver dollar, the half dollar, and the quarter, plus on the United States’ Great Seal.
