Top 12+ Reasons to Celebrate Our Freedom Fliers

The bald eagle is the national symbol and emblem of the United States, as well as the country's national bird. It is emblazoned on one side of the Great Seal of the United States. On this day 238 years ago, the seal bearing its image became official. We celebrate this majestic animal, not just for being on the country's crest; the eagle is celebrated for its recovery after almost becoming extinct, for the values and ideals it has come to represent, and for its importance to American folklore and society.

In 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were tasked with creating a seal for the newly formed country. Their design was not accepted by Congress, and various other committees were formed over the six years where others worked on designing the seal. After much debate, a design was finally approved and made official on June 20, 1782.

The Great Seal is attached to many official documents, such as treaties and presidential proclamations. There is an official Great Seal kept in a mahogany cabinet in Exhibit Hall at the State Department in Washington D.C., which is used to stamp documents. The obverse and reverse of the seal can also be found on the back side of the dollar bill.

The eagle is at the center of the obverse side of the Great Seal, holding an olive branch in its right talon and thirteen arrows in its left. The olive branch symbolizes the country's commitment to peace, which it Protects and defends Around the world. While the arrows symbolize the country's readiness for war, they also represent the original colonies. The eagle holds a scroll in its beak, on which is written the original national motto, "E pluribus unum” - "out of many, one." This is another reference to the original thirteen colonies, which came together to form a new country. This side of the seal is also considered to be the coat of arms of the United States.

American Eagle Day has gone by, or goes by, various names – Bald Eagle Day, National Bald Eagle Day, National Eagle Day, National American Eagle Day, and American Bald Eagle Day. On January 28, 1982, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation for National Bald Eagle Day, after a joint resolution of Congress designated 1982 as the Bicentennial Year of the American Bald Eagle, and June 20, 1982, as National Bald Eagle Day. American Eagle Day was proclaimed by President William Clinton in 1995, as well as by Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist, after urging from the American Eagle Foundation.

Reagan and Clinton's proclamations did not make this an official annual day for the bald eagle, though the public has celebrated the eagle annually on Today’s date. Furthermore, almost all states have since made the day an official observance for the bald eagle. Beginning in 2007, the United States Senate started passing resolutions marking the day a celebration. If a joint resolution with the House of Representatives is passed, American Eagle Day would permanently be established. Then, a presidential proclamation would need to be issued each year – Executive branch proclamations do not automatically renew.

Bald eagles are only found in North America, and their numbers began dwindling after Europeans arrived on the continent. In 1782, there were as many as 75,000 bald eagles in the lower 48 states; but by the late 1800s, they were scarce. Viewed as vermin and a threat to livestock, they were shot by farmers. Others saw them as game. Western movement in the United States destroyed habitats and food sources. In 1940, Congress acted to protect the birds by passing the Bald Eagle Act.

It was also around this time, though, and especially after World War II, when DDT began being used. It was great at ridding fields of mosquitos and other small agricultural pests, but it also had a detrimental effect on bald eagles. Small animals ingested the chemical and were in turn eaten by eagles, affecting them and their eggs. Eggs became thinner, causing them to break.

By 1963, only 417 mating pairs of bald eagles were left in the lower 48 states. The banning of DDT in 1972 is seen as the most important act to help the recovery of the bald eagle. The Endangered Species Acts of 1966 and 1978 also helped with the restoration of the birds. It took more than laws to bring back the birds, though. Many birds were bred in captivity and reintroduced to places throughout the United States. The work and efforts of federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, scientists, environmentalists, conservationists, and groups like the American Eagle Foundation all were fundamental in the bolstering of the bald eagle population.

The birds were removed from the endangered species list in 1995, and in June of 2007, their status was changed from "threatened" to "protected." By the late 2000s, there were estimated to be 10,000 nesting pairs. Some believe there are now about 15,000 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states. Bald eagles still face threats, including loss of habitat, contaminants, and diseases.  It remains important they be protected.

Bald eagles are not actually bald but have white plumage on their heads. Young bald eagles mainly have brown heads for the first five years of their life. Eagles’ diet consists mostly of fish, as well as small animals –  ducks, crabs, gulls, rabbits, and amphibians. Sometimes they chase down other birds and steal food from them, scavenge for food in dumpsters, or eat carrion—decaying dead animals. They can dive at speeds of 100 miles an hour to catch their prey, and otherwise fly at a speed of about 30 miles an hour.

Bald eagles usually mate for life, after pairing up at about the age of four or five. Females lay two or three eggs, and both parents incubate and protect them from predators such as ravens, gulls, and squirrels. Both parents also feed the young, as well as build the nest the family lives in. The nests are made with sticks and lined with softer materials such as grass and feathers. They may be used multiple years, and new material is added to them each year. The nests are usually two to four feet deep and four to five feet wide. The Guinness World Record for the largest bird's nest is of a bald eagle nest. It was twenty 20 feet deep and 9.5 feet wide, weighing in at over two tons.

Female bald eagles are larger than males, which is the easiest way to tell the sexes apart. They both have the same plumage pattern. Full grown eagles have wingspans of about seven feet. The birds often live to be about 30 to 35 years, and it is believed the oldest wild bald eagle lived to be 38.

The American Eagle Foundation is instrumental in organizing events for American Eagle Day each year. Conservation and educational organizations hold public outreach events, such as workshops and lectures, to show the importance of protecting bald eagles and other wildlife. Many citizens also celebrate the eagle in various other ways on the day.

Facts about our FaithFul Freedom Fliers | American Eagle Day |

Source:

CheckiDay.com

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