National American Eagle Day 2023: Celebrate the national symbol of the United States on National American Eagle Day! We set aside time on 20 June to raise awareness about the bald eagle and preserve its natural habitat. The purpose of the holiday is to educate others about the significance of eagles and to explore methods to ensure their survival for future generations. In the 1950s, the bald eagle was in grave danger of extinction. Loss of their natural habitat, hunting, and the use of pesticides that harmed their embryos precipitated a precipitous decline in the population. In 1967, the bird was listed as endangered in the United States. The bird moved on to become a prominent Endangered Species Act success story. Significant progress was made in 1995 when the bald eagle was transferred from the national list of endangered species to the national list of threatened species. As of 2007, the bald eagle population is thriving and no longer considered endangered. The American Eagle Foundation, a Tennessee-based organisation dedicated to preserving bald eagles and other birds of prey, established National American Eagle Day. Bald eagles prefer to reside near large bodies of water, as they primarily consume fish, and are renowned for their beauty and grace in flight. Since the 1700s, they have been revered as national symbols of the United States.
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HISTORY OF NATIONAL AMERICAN EAGLE DAY
Native to the United States, bald eagles are formidable predators. They represent strength, resolve, and honour. In ancient times, even before the European conquest, bald eagles witnessed the rise and collapse of empires while soaring through the vast blue skies.
The Second Continental Congress chose the bald eagle as the national symbol of the United States on June 20, 1782. During that time, there were no hazards from the ground or the sky. During that time period, more than one hundred thousand nesting pairs dominated the U.S. skies. The story altered for bald eagles in the nineteenth century, however.
Pesticide poisoning, illegal hunting, habitat destruction, lead poisoning, birth defects, and other factors led to a precipitous decline in the eagle population. The Bald Eagle Protection Act, which provided some protection for the birds, was enacted by Congress in 1940. The law prohibited the sale, possession, and slaughter of bald eagles. However, the population continued to decline, and by 1967 they were listed as an endangered species. DDT, a pesticide used to eradicate mosquitoes and other vermin, was the primary offender. The chemical contaminated water bodies and prey fish for bald eagles. The DDT interacted with the bald eagle’s calcium secreting mechanism to dissolve the eggshells. The result was soft embryos that failed to hatch or shattered under the mother’s weight.
Rachel Carson mentioned the negative impact of DDT on the ecosystem in her book The Silent Spring. As a consequence, the United States banned the use of DDT, paving the way for the return of bald eagles to American skies. In the present day, bald eagles are prospering, with a population of more than 300,000, largely as a result of intensive conservation efforts.
The purpose of Bald Eagle Appreciation Day is to educate the public about the significance of the bald eagle to the American ecosystem and culture.
Five facts about BALD EAGLES that will pique your interest
‘Balde’ (not ‘bald’)
The term ‘bald’ is derived from an old usage that meant ‘white-headed.’
Alaskan might
Typically larger than their mainland counterparts, Alaskan bald eagles can weigh up to 17 pounds.
Largest bird colony
One pair of bald eagles in Florida constructed a nest that measured 20 feet deep by 9.5 feet wide and weighed more than two tonnes.
Supervision
The bald eagle’s vision is longer and broader than that of humans, and it extends to the ultraviolet spectrum.
Storm, bah!
Eagles soaring at a height of 10,000 feet are able to evade precipitation and storms by flying above the clouds.
NATIONAL AMERICAN EAGLE DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | June 20 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | June 20 | Thursday |
| 2025 | June 20 | Friday |
| 2026 | June 20 | Saturday |
| 2027 | June 20 | Sunday |
