JACKSON, Wyo. — On Monday, Dec. 16, bipartisan legislation to designate the bald eagle, a staple species in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) that has long been viewed as a symbol of this nation, as the official National Bird of the U.S. passed the House of Representatives after passing the Senate this past July.
Despite its place in American culture, the U.S. does not yet legally recognize an official bird. The bill comes from Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).
According to a press release from Senator Lummis’ office, the bald eagle has been depicted as the national symbol of the U.S. since June 20, 1782, when the country’s Founding Fathers at the Second Continental Congress approved the Great Seal.
“Today, the bald eagle is synonymous with American life.”
Senator Lummis’ office
“Since that time, the bald eagle has appeared on official documents, currency, flags, public buildings, sports teams and other government-related items,” the press release states. “Today, the bald eagle is synonymous with American life.”
Yellowstone Forever (YF) notes that the bald eagle is native only to North America, known for forming long-term pair bonds and co-parenting their young. According to YF, Hayden Valley and along the Madison River are among the best places to see bald eagles year-round in the GYE.
According to the Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative, bald eagles and their nesting behavior are important barometers of the GYE’s health in the face of climate change. How eagles respond to changes in early nesting season weather patterns can inform broader implications of a warming climate.
Yellowstone National Park (YNP) writes on its website that bald eagle populations “declined dramatically” during most of the 1900s due to habitat loss, shooting and pesticide contamination. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the bald eagle as an endangered species in 1967 in 43 states, including Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, and the species was successfully recovered and delisted in 2007.
However, YNP notes that research shows human presence can disturb eagle nesting and foraging. Because of this, nest areas in national parks could be closed to visitors, and YNP manages nest sites on a case by case basis. The most recent data out of YNP suggest there are approximately 28 bald eagle territories in the Park.
The new bill is now heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
