the Smith Rock Bald Eagles (and others) get their cred at long last—celebrate it on January 5, National Bird Day

the Smith Rock Bald Eagles (AND OTHERS) GET THEIR CRED AT LONG LAST—CELEBRATE IT ON JANUARY 5, NATIONAL BIRD DAY

January 4, 2025

You probably thought the Bald Eagle was already our national bird if you were like us. That's not the case. The Great Seal of the United States was created in 1782 when our victory over Great Britain was imminent. Even that took an act of Congress to happen. Well, it took another one to make Baldy our national bird and signed into law on December 23, 2024. Here at Smith Rock, we’ve always held them in high esteem, fawning over their mating and nesting rituals for over a decade since they chose a favorite spot where we watch them nourish their young each year until they fledge.

Some more possibly unknown history. Eagles have adorned national emblems since the early Roman Empire, but they were symbolic generic types never found in nature. As the Bald Eagle was a bona fide species and native to North America, The Founders chose it for the seal. And while Native Americans embraced the Bald Eagle as a spirit bird and relative for thousands of years, by the late 19th century sightings of the majestic creature were rare in the East and Midwest, as settling Americans tried to exterminate them over accusations of stealing livestock and kidnapping babies. It took until 1940 for Congress to protect them from willful harm. 5 years later DDT hit the market to help control insects. By 1963 only 487 nesting pairs were left in an already unstable population due to poisoning from the chemical. With the EPA ban on the domestic sale of DDT in 1972, and the placement of the Bald Eagles on the endangered species list until 2007, the population continued to rebound, with over 500,000 as of June 2024.

Phew—that’s a lot to go through to finally reach national bird status! A big thanks to the Minnesotans at the National Eagle Center and the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes representing 35 indigenous nations adopting a resolution of support, helping to get it codified in law with members of Congress from Minnesota. So when you head over to the Bivy ledge (in small and quiet groups, no dogs please) this nesting season, celebrate with your “inside voice” and give these majestic creatures their due.

Thanks also to photographer Charlie Busa for these amazing shots from the last part of 2024, including the header. We look forward to seeing and sharing more of the Bald Family nesting season!