The Bald Eagle Is Ready To Spread It Wings And Soar As The Country’s Official Bird.

Thanks to the tireless effort of Preston Cook and The National Eagle Center, in collaboration with a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and House Representatives, the bill to designate the Bald Eagle as the country’s official national bird today passed the House. Having gained approval from the U.S. Senate last July, it now advances to the President’s desk for final signature.

“This is an exciting day. The Bald Eagle has symbolized American ideals since its placement on the Great Seal in 1782,” said Preston Cook, Co-Chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center, and author of American Eagle – A Visual History of Our National Emblem. “With this legislation, we honor its historic role and solidify its place as our national bird and an emblem of our national identity.”

U.S. Representative Brad Finstad (R-MN) led the effort in the House with support from Angie Craig (D-MN).  U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) spearheaded the effort in the Senate, which passed last July.  The Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes, representing 36 Indigenous nations and four tribal organizations, also supported the effort.

“For nearly 250 years, we called the Bald Eagle the national bird when it wasn’t,” said Jack Davis, Co-Chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center, and author of The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird. “But now the title is official, and no bird is more deserving. “

The Man Behind the Eagle Effort.

Preston Cook, is the force driving the National Bird Initiative. Cook is a passionate advocate for the American Bald Eagle, dedicating more than fifty years to studying and preserving the iconic bird. During that time he curated a collection of over 40,000 eagle-related items which he recently donated to the National Eagle Center. The collection showcases the eagle’s symbolic importance in American history and highlights its role in global cultures, including its portrayal in indigenous, military, and patriotic iconography.

It was during research for his his book, American Eagle-A-Visual History of Our National Emblem, that Cook discovered that the Bald Eagle had never been designated America’s official national bird. He quickly became the Bald Eagle’s chief advocate on Capitol Hill, sparking the campaign to solidify its status. He has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the American Bald Eagle Foundation and the Oceanic Society. Preston recently moved to Wabasha, Minnesota, where he helps the National Eagle Center organize displays of his collections to help educate the public about the eagle’s natural history, its cultural symbolism and the conservation efforts to protect this iconic bird.