Bald Eagle

The American Bald Eagle is the symbol of the United States of America. It has been the national bird of the United States since 1782 when it was placed with outspread wings on the Great Seal of the country. 

Knowing that symbology was an important factor for the new nation as was the stars and stripes flag, the Continental Congress recruited founding fathers Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams to come up with an official seal for the new nation. After the first go-round, they had not made a clear-cut choice so two more committees were formed to complete the task, however with several opposing ideas, no determination was made. 

It was at some point that the Continental Congress selected Charles Thompson, then the secretary of Congress, to come up with a design. Thompson reviewed the various submissions and took what he considered the best of each design and came up with a grand outstretched Bald Eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and a set of arrows in the other. The Continental Congress accepted this design and it has been used ever since.

And although it has been often said that Benjamin Franklin pressured Congress to make the wild turkey the symbol on the United States of America’s national emblem, there is no truth in that.

1. Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens, Portland, Oregon

2. Sutter County, California

3. Cal Expo live exhibit, Sacramento, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

4. Lake Natoma, Snowberry Way, Orangevale, California

5. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows, California

5. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows, California

5. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows, California

5. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows, California

5. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows, California

5. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows, California

5. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows, California

5. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows, California

5. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows, California

Bald Eagles locations of sightings