Why is the bald eagle the national bird of the United States?
When did the bald eagle become the national bird of the United States?
Who chose the bald eagle as America’s national bird?
What does the bald eagle represent?
A Little About America’s National Bird
Why didn’t Ben Franklin like eagles?
What 3 things about the bald eagle make it a poor choice for a national symbol?
What was the national bird before the bald eagle?
What is America’s National Treasure?
The 50 states in the United States have an extremely diverse range of habitats that attract and sustain thriving bird populations across the country.
Every state has its own bird, but what is America’s national bird?
America has long been associated with the bald eagle, a handsome bird associated with strength, freedom, courage and focus — qualities the Founding Fathers wanted to associate with their new nation.
When the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were tasked with designing the official seal of the United States.
It wasn’t until six years later, in June 1782, that a design was agreed upon, resulting in the Great Seal featuring the bald eagle, that the world began to be associated with the United States.
It’s a fascinating story, and the bald eagle is a fascinating bird. So read on to learn more interesting facts about America’s national bird, the majestic bald eagle.
National bird and animal of the United States, the bald eagle
Why is the bald eagle the national bird of the United States?
Heraldry is associated with medieval Europe, where states, ruling monarchs, members of the nobility and wealthy landowners would design their own coat of arms.
By the time the United States was liberated from the British colonies in 1776, heraldry was a somewhat well-preserved art form that remained popular throughout Europe. The Founding Fathers saw fit to give America its own repeatable iconography and symbolism in the form of the Great Seal.
The Great Seal will provide the United States with its own symbol of sovereignty for use in official state documents, treaties and transactions.
first committee
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were originally responsible for the seal, but none of them had heraldic experience. So they recruited a French artist living in Philadelphia named Pierre Eugene Ducimitier. This is called the First Committee.
The original design was complex and quite convoluted. For example, Franklin wanted an allegorical scene from the Bible’s book of Exodus, and Du Simitiere created a design featuring a female figure of freedom and an American soldier with a rifle and tomahawk.
Bits and bits of these designs were pushed forward, but in general the First Committee adjourned without anyone making a decision on the final design.
Majestic bald eagle in flight
second committee
The second committee was led by art-oriented Pennsylvania Judge Francis Hopkinson, and the design featured the shield and other elements used in the final design. But, alas, the submitted design was not adopted.
third committee
Then, finally, the Third Committee set about making the Great Seal out of the eagle. Heraldry expert William Barton included a humble white eagle in the design.
After some hesitation, it was given to Congressional Secretary Charles Thompson, who fashioned the eagle into a vulture with a shield in hand.
The shield has thirteen chevron stripes, the eagle grasps an olive branch with 13 leaves and 13 olives and a bunch of thirteen arrows, representing the 13 primordial states.
There are 13 stars on the head of the eagle, and the motto is many for one – With a Latin word in its mouth, meaning “one of many”.
The final design was submitted to Congress on June 20, 1782, and accepted that day—six years after the Great Seal was originally opened.
Great Seal of the United States
When did the bald eagle become the national bird of the United States?
In May 1782, the Third Committee recommended replacing the common white eagle design with the bald eagle.
The Third Committee decided that the bald eagle was more suitable and created the final design around June 1782.
Who chose the bald eagle as America’s national bird?
The Third Committee referred all existing designs and drawings to Parliamentary Secretary Charles Thomson. Thomson took the eagle from a previous design and specified that it should be a vulture. The bald eagle is then assembled with the shield, arrows, olive branch, scroll and star.
American bald eagles were probably more common then than they were a few decades ago. Some records indicate that there were more than 500,000 bald eagles in the United States when European settlers first arrived.
close up of a bald eagle
What does the bald eagle represent?
Eagles often have a long and glorious symbolism in many ancient and modern cultures. For example, in Native American, Aztec, Mayan, and Incas symbolism, the eagle was seen as a symbol of strength, courage, wisdom, immortality, and the future.
In Europe, the eagle was associated with the concept of empire, first appearing in the Byzantine Empire and later in the Holy Roman Empire and the Roman Empire.
The Roman Aquila – which means eagle in Latin – was a symbol of war for the Romans, who used to carry standards bearing the constellation Aquila to battle. As early as 100 BC, the eagle was designated as an important Roman symbol.
It is worth mentioning that European symbolism is not particularly associated with bald eagles, as they are not native to Europe.
The eagle was designated as an important Roman symbol as early as 100 BC
A Little About America’s National Bird
Bald eagles are majestic eagles, afforded by their white heads and tails. These large birds of prey are the second largest eagle in the United States, after the golden eagle. Bald eagles are sea eagles, also known as ospreys, that excel at fishing, although they are also perfectly capable of hunting large land animals.
Bald eagles form long-lasting pair bonds and build the largest nests of any bird. The Bald Eagle’s Nest is currently the Guinness World Record holder for the largest bird’s nest.
In St. Petersburg, Florida, the nest is 2.89 meters (9.5 feet) in diameter, 6 meters (20 feet) deep, and weighs about 3 tons!
Thanks to the Bald and Golden Eagle Conservation Act and massive conservation efforts, there are now 316,700 bald eagles in the lower 48 states of the United States. The population has quadrupled since 2009.
Bald eagle perched on a branch of a tree
Why didn’t Ben Franklin like eagles?
The choice of the bald eagle as the main symbol of the Great Seal has a long backstory. A popular myth states that Benjamin Franklin didn’t want a bald eagle as a logo, saying instead a turkey was a better choice. That’s true to a degree, though perhaps in jest rather than with total sincerity.
In 1784, two years after the Great Seal was accepted, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to his daughter. He said”For my part, I wish the bald eagle hadn’t been chosen to represent our country. He is a beast of bad character. He didn’t earn a living honestly.“
He went on to complain that the bald eagle is a lazy hunter, often perching and waiting for other birds or animals to hunt, then flying in to steal the prey, more like a carrion bird than a professional hunter.
In fact, Franklin is right that vultures often poach other animals—particularly hardworking ospreys.
Franklin continued; “In fact, the turkey is a much more revered bird by comparison and is truly native to the Americas.“
Franklin’s criticism of bald eagles is popular. Renowned ornithologist John James Audubon described these birds as “grumpy, domineering, tyrannical’ and Arthur Cleveland Bent referred to the bald eagle as “a coward, with a ridiculously weak voice, and insignificant”.
Franklin’s letter, however, was not really aimed at the Great Seal, but rather at the emblem of the Society of Cincinnati, a senior military club founded by officers of the Continental Army.
Franklin criticized the club, sarcastically saying that the turkey should be their logo. In essence, his letter was a satire of the Cincinnati Association, which he and many others disapproved of.
Bald eagle makes a splash after catching fish
What 3 things about the bald eagle make it a poor choice for a national symbol?
1: Not original
The eagle was not an original choice for a state coat of arms. Eagles have a long history in American and European heraldry. Many Mesoamerican and South American civilizations have adopted the eagle as part of their national symbols and coat of arms.
Benjamin Franklin himself emphasized that “eagles are found in all countries”, while turkeys are only found in North America.
2: Ornithologists criticize bald eagles
Two influential American ornithologists, James Audubon and Arthur Cleveland Bent, publicly criticized the bald eagle. The bald eagle is undoubtedly big and powerful, but it is one of the more lazy hunters of the hawk family. Having said that, about 400 animals have been recorded as prey to vultures – so this bird is clearly capable.
Vultures often watch other more industrious hunters and swoop in to steal their prey rather than hunt themselves. While this can be considered a sign of wisdom and resourcefulness, this still may not prove that the vulture’s symbolism is courage, strength, focus, wisdom, and strength.
3: The eagle is associated with war and empire
Eagles have had a controversial history in European heraldry. Originally, the eagle was associated with the Byzantine Empire before being adopted by the Holy Roman Empire and the Roman Empire. The use of the eagle by the Holy Roman Empire continued into the Second German Reich (1871-1918), the Weimar Republic (1919-1933) and Nazi Germany (1933-1945).
The double-headed eagle is also important in Russia and many other countries, where it is often associated with war and conquest. In the Roman Empire, the Eagle Aquila banner was a quasi-religious symbol to which soldiers would dedicate their lives on the battlefield.
However, it’s worth mentioning that most of these eagles are just common eagles – so bald eagles are pretty much innocent and cannot be culpable by mere association! In addition, the eagle on the national seal holds an olive branch symbolizing peace, looks to the left, and expresses “prefer peace to war”.
Adult bald eagle soaring through the sky
What was the national bird before the bald eagle?
Before the bald eagle became the symbol of the Great Seal, the first 13 states had their own coat of arms. Before the bald eagle, however, there was no national bird. In fact, there wasn’t even a country when the colony became the United States until 6 years before the Great Seal was finalized in 1782.
What is America’s National Treasure?
The bald eagle is the national animal of the United States. However, the United States now also has a “national mammal.” In 2016, President Obama signed the National Bison Heritage Act, which named the American bison the national mammal of the United States.
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.